Auto-park feature: Any clues on install availability?

[Secret Sauce]

Anyone have any info on when the auto-park feature will be available for installation, for those of us who got the "prep kit" instead? Seems like this deletion includes most/all builds in calendar 2022 so far.

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[generaltso]

Ford hasn’t said.

 

[Secret Sauce]

Ford hasn’t said.

I realize nothing official has come out (or I'd already know). Sometimes dealerships pick up scuttlebutt that they pass onto customers. So I'm really just asking about any rumors.

 

[SuperRob]

I am expecting that this will never, ever happen. And if it does, I expect it's going to be expensive enough to not bother with.

If neither of those end up being the case, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[generaltso]

I realize nothing official has come out (or I'd already know). Sometimes dealerships pick up scuttlebutt that they pass onto customers. So I'm really just asking about any rumors.

Anything a dealer says shouldn’t be trusted.

 

[RickMachE]

Commonsense says 2024, 2025, ...

No way this clears up in 2023.

I have the feature, have had it before, and it's less than valuable. Why?

- The perpendicular park places you next to a vehicle. So, if there's 10 empty spaces and then a car, it parks you right next to the car. I wouldn't park there.

- While it's valuable in say parallel parking, the 360 degree camera makes it obsolete.

- It's too slow to setup and get going.

 

[Secret Sauce]

I'm aware some who have the feature don't care for it, but I wasn't asking about that. A potentially trustable rumor is what (if anything) customers are hearing about this feature on their new orders. AFAIK the feature hasn't been deleted (as was the kick lift gate opener) and the prep kits are still be installed in new builds, so it might appear some day. But with a nearly year-long backlog of cars with prep kits, I wonder how likely it is we'll ever get the option to install it. That's what I am asking about.

 

[RickMachE]

I'm aware some who have the feature don't care for it, but I wasn't asking about that. A potentially trustable rumor is what (if anything) customers are hearing about this feature on their new orders. AFAIK the feature hasn't been deleted (as was the kick lift gate opener) and the prep kits are still be installed in new builds, so it might appear some day. But with a nearly year-long backlog of cars with prep kits, I wonder how likely it is we'll ever get the option to install it. That's what I am asking about.

See post #5.

Even if Ford gave them a timeline, Ford hasn't made a single publicized deadline on the Mach-E since launch. Updates came very late. Jim Farley and Ford have admitted they didn't predict the end of the chip shortage accurately, and that it will go through 2023 and possibly beyond.

So, they'd be stupid to say anything but "when chips become available".

Also, keep in mind that dealerships, like all businesses, are experiencing huge employee shortages. If this was available, I could see dealerships saying "sure, we'll install that, right after the new car dealer-installed options and the actual repair and maintenance issues are taken care of". Wouldn't you be ticked to wait for your car to be fixed because someone wanted Park Assist?

 

[Secret Sauce]

See post #5.

Even if Ford gave them a timeline, Ford hasn't made a single publicized deadline on the Mach-E since launch. Updates came very late. Jim Farley and Ford have admitted they didn't predict the end of the chip shortage accurately, and that it will go through 2023 and possibly beyond.

So, they'd be stupid to say anything but "when chips become available".

Also, keep in mind that dealerships, like all businesses, are experiencing huge employee shortages. If this was available, I could see dealerships saying "sure, we'll install that, right after the new car dealer-installed options and the actual repair and maintenance issues are taken care of". Wouldn't you be ticked to wait for your car to be fixed because someone wanted Park Assist?

Well, as I said, what customers are seeing or are being told about this feature when they place new orders would be of interest. To me, anyway. Do new builds still include the prep kit? That would be of interest too. It would indicate whether Ford ever expects to make this feature available or has given up on it, like they did with the lift gate opener.

 

[generaltso]

Well, as I said, what customers are seeing or are being told about this feature when they place new orders would be of interest. To me, anyway. Do new builds still include the prep kit? That would be of interest too. It would indicate whether Ford ever expects to make this feature available or has given up on it, like they did with the lift gate opener.

The feature was removed from the order guide for 2023.

 

[BluePony]

Other than the auto park, it also effects side sensing sadly...

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/active-park-assist-powers-side-sensing.22162/

 

[Secret Sauce]

The feature was removed from the order guide for 2023.

Thanks, that tells a big part of the story. I'd guess we 2022 owners have the prep kit to nowhere.

 

[AKgrampy]

Thanks, that tells a big part of the story. I'd guess we 2022 owners have the prep kit to nowhere.

My guess is the prep kit is an empty socket!

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