Ford to ship and sell incomplete vehicles with missing chips

Ford will quickly begin promoting and delivery incomplete, however driveable automobiles that come with out the chips that energy sure non-safety options, in accordance with a report from Automotive Information. The automaker will as a substitute ship the semiconductors to sellers inside one yr, which they may then set up in prospects’ automobiles after buy.

There nonetheless isn’t any data on the affected automobile fashions or options. Ford initially had plans to ship partially-built, undrivable automobiles to sellers final yr, however now, the unchipped automobiles can be each driveable and sellable.

As identified by Automotive Information, Ford’s determination comes as an try to maneuver the partially-built automobiles crowding its manufacturing unit tons. Final month, lots of of recent Ford Broncos have been noticed sitting idly within the snow-covered tons close to Ford’s Michigan Meeting Plant, all of which await chip-related installations.

Like many different corporations, Ford has been grappling with the constraints launched by the chip scarcity. Final yr, a scarcity of semiconductors compelled Ford to reduce manufacturing of its widespread F-150, and in November, Ford and Basic Motors introduced a cope with chip producer GlobalFoundries to assist ease the scarcity.

Different automakers have additionally needed to make sacrifices because of the chip scarcity, with GM dropping wi-fi charging, HD radios, and a gas administration module that made some pickup vehicles function extra effectively. In the meantime, Tesla bought some automobiles with out USB ports and made them installable at a later date. Luxurious automobiles haven’t been exempt from the scarcity both, as Cadillac nixed its hands-free driving function in its 2022 Escalade, whereas BMW started delivery some automobiles with out touchscreens.

The Verge reached out to Ford with a request for remark however didn’t instantly hear again.