Ford facing a shortage of Focus due to supplier not providing enough dashboards

Ford has been seeing a lot of success from their latest Focus. However, they haven’t been having the same success meeting demands for the new Ford Focus because the Dearborn make has been experiencing technical difficulties in their assembly line.

The machines that make the dashboard covers for the Ford Focus has been working intermittently, thus forcing Ford to take the costly step of importing the parts from Europe to keep the assembly lines moving.

“For the most part, whenever you have a (new model) launch there are always some launch issues that you deal with,” said Ford US’s president, Mark Fields. “I won’t say it’s been flawless, but the good news is there’s a lot of demand for it and we’ll continue to get those cars out.”

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Fields is unsure as to when the machines will be fixed, but other than that he just said that the Focus plant is now producing at its normal, expected rate.

Despite these words from Fields, the shortage has been felt by dealer networks all over the country as Sam Pack, owner of four Ford dealerships in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, said he had to place many customers on a waiting list due to the shortage.

“I know they’re working 24/7 trying to address whatever component issues they have,” Pack said. “It’s a high-visibility issue with Ford Motor Co., and senior management is very concerned and very involved.”

Refresher: The 2012 Ford Focus is powered by 2.0L DOHC inline 4-clyinder unit with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), direct gasoline injection and E85 flex fuel capability. The engine produces 160-hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. With the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package, the Focus delivers an EPA-certified fuel-economy rating of 28/40 mpg (city/highway). The 2012 Focus is offered in S, SE, SEL and Titanium trim-levels with prices starting at $16,270.

2012 Ford Focus:

   

– By: Chris Chin

Source: MSNBC