As auto manufacturers navigate the shifting sands of today’s marketplace with its chip shortages, parts shortages, and other constantly changing variables, the new Ford Maverick is the latest vehicle to be affected. Ford sent a letter to dealers on Monday stating that new orders (both from customers and dealers) of the mid-size pickup truck will be halted on January 27, until later this year when orders for the 2023 model will be opened up.
The direction from Ford comes not long after they stopped taking orders for the upcoming F-150 Lightning and completely retooled their game plan around the production of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. The Maverick might not be an EV, but it’s so popular that Ford has already reached production capacity for the 2022 model year.
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A spokesperson for Ford confirmed the move to Carscoops: “There’s been overwhelming demand for Maverick – both hybrid and EcoBoost. We’re making the decision to stop taking new retail orders on the 2022 Ford Maverick starting after January 27 to focus on existing orders. Customers may still be able to purchase a Maverick on the lot at their local Ford dealer. We’ll kick off ordering for the 2023 Maverick starting in the summer.”
Ford will stop accepting both customer and dealer orders of the 2022 Maverick
Asked if the move concerns customer orders only or dealer orders as well, they told us: “We’re going to stop taking new orders on Jan. 27. Dealers may still receive stock orders that were placed earlier as they’re built.” So regardless of whether the order is a custom one or a group of stock trim level trucks, Ford will no longer take new orders from customers or dealers after January 27th.
That backs up the memo sent to dealers that new orders for the 2022 Maverick model year will have to be submitted by January 27th if they’re going to get made this year. General Manager of Ford Trucks, Dean Stoneley, went on the record with the Wall Street Journal saying “We didn’t want to take more orders than we could build. We’re getting customers who would have perhaps bought a used car and are now buying the Maverick because it is so affordable.”
With that attitude, cutting off orders was the only way to ensure that Ford wouldn’t have to cancel them outright. The blue oval brand isn’t the only one hit with similar slowdowns and stoppages either. General Motors has had to pull technology that relies on semiconductor chips from multiple vehicles in order to complete them and get them to dealers.
Subaru is taking a very similar step to Ford with regard to its BRZ sports car. It cut off custom orders as well but said that customers who still wanted a BRZ could find one in non-custom spec at their local dealer.
If you’re still on the hunt for a brand new Ford Maverick, You might want to start hunting at your local dealer. Of course, it won’t be custom, but at least Ford isn’t having to halt production or anything like that. They also confirmed that orders for the 2023 Maverick would open up sometime in the summer.
Have you been shopping for a Maverick and will you be putting in an order before the deadline on January 27th, or are you willing to pick up a stock trim level? Let us know below.
