Update on Mach-E launch progress from engineering friends in Mexico

[Kamuelaflyer]

If they're all waiting on a lot for OKTB release it actually doesn't matter, delivery wise, whether customer FE's are built before, after, or concurrent with FCTP cars. It's nice to know information, of course, but almost meaningless to us delivery wise. But the sooner OKTB happens the better IMO.

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[dbsb3233]

Yes. Good point. Dealers are Ford's only customers but dealership can be it's own customer.

I don't think a dealer buying a vehicle for inventory to resell counts as a "customer".

Now, a dealership employee ordering one for themselves (i.e. in their own name) counts as a customer, of course. But I don't think "Downtown Ford" buying one to sell does.

 

[SnBGC]

I don't think a dealer buying a vehicle for inventory to resell counts as a "customer".

Now, a dealership employee ordering one for themselves (i.e. in their own name) counts as a customer, of course. But I don't think "Downtown Ford" buying one to sell does.

Agree

 

[dbsb3233]

But the sooner OKTB happens the better IMO.

That's the key. I was hoping we might get an update on the expected OKTB date, but nothing new leaked (yet).

 

[mattbostonmache]

When do we get to see reviews with reviewers driving?? Does that have to wait for OKTB? And for dealer demo units (FCTP) to arrive?

 

[hybrid2bev]

I wonder if the #1 FE was in fact a customer unit but was a 1 of 1 run. Meaning it was made separately from the FCTP units that should be in production now and normal customer production jobs that we heard were starting in the last week of Oct.

Maybe use the first one as a publicity photo op. Wild speculation that the first FE unit is for Bill Ford Jr. He’s a big fan and owns a lot of Mustangs. He has the pull to get the first one. He got the very first Ford GT for example.

 

[ChasingCoral]

@ChasingCoral previously posted this chart. The FEs are not part of the FCTP ordering system. Yes, a dealer could be a customer if they were to have specifically ordered a FE, but it wouldn't be part of this program. Though, not sure if Ford prohibited the dealerships from doing so.

I have heard of more than one dealership employee who ordered an FE. I don't blame them one bit!

 

[ChasingCoral]

IIRC, the production timing on that flipped around again. But it's all kinda moot whether FCTP or customer units are built in Oct if the OKTB (OK to buy) info is correct, which said neither customer nor FCTP units can leave the Cuautitlan plant until OKTB is given. And the date we heard for that at the time was Nov 23 (no word on if that has changed).

That would mean anything being made between now and then will just sit on the lot (that appears to be able to hold 3000-4000) waiting for OKTB.

What we had heard was that before the main production of customer FEs, the Cuautitlan plant would first build FCTP and executive cars. It looks to me like this first First Edition falls into the latter category.

 

[SnBGC]

I wonder if the #1 FE was in fact a customer unit but was a 1 of 1 run. Meaning it was made separately from the FCTP units that should be in production now and normal customer production jobs that we heard were starting in the last week of Oct.

Maybe use the first one as a publicity photo op. Wild speculation that the first FE unit is for Bill Ford Jr. He’s a big fan and owns a lot of Mustangs. He has the pull to get the first one. He got the very first Ford GT for example.

I was thinking something similar. #1 VIN would be a brass car.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I kind of remember reading here that the US had about 2100 EV Certified dealers and Canada at least 3 or 4 hundred more. Those numbers will be going up as the F-150 EV program gets ramped up.
I think the best info last nite was that the #1 Customer First Edition was already off the line.
I expect we will have a build date / vin # soon.

I recall hearing First Edition VINs should start coming out by mid-October.

 

[ChasingCoral]

When do we get to see reviews with reviewers driving?? Does that have to wait for OKTB? And for dealer demo units (FCTP) to arrive?

I would hope those late advertising units that were just coming out could be used for reviews. I wouldn't think they would have to wait for OKTB.

 

[ChasingCoral]

If they're all waiting on a lot for OKTB release it actually doesn't matter, delivery wise, whether customer FE's are built before, after, or concurrent with FCTP cars. It's nice to know information, of course, but almost meaningless to us delivery wise. But the sooner OKTB happens the better IMO.

Agreed. Personally, if they all have to wait for OKTB anyway, I'd prefer they make the FCTPs first to get more practice before building the FEs.

 

[ClaudeMach-E]

When do we get to see reviews with reviewers driving?? Does that have to wait for OKTB? And for dealer demo units (FCTP) to arrive?

Would it be possible that they hand out prototypes now to reviewers has the production of customer's car is about to start?

 

[dbsb3233]

What we had heard was that before the main production of customer FEs, the Cuautitlan plant would first build FCTP and executive cars. It looks to me like this first First Edition falls into the latter category.

Yep, although my point was that it doesn't really matter if they all have to wait for a late-Nov OKTB before shipping out from the plant anyway.

Your later post is the same though I had... if they all have to wait to ship anyway, I'd rather they perfect the process on the FCTP's first.

 

[dbsb3233]

Would it be possible that they hand out prototypes now to reviewers has the production of customer's car is about to start?

Without passing the OKTB approval, I'm guessing the only ones allowed to drive them on public roads are employees with certain rules and waivers in place (although that's just my guess). They're presumably rated as manufacture test vehicles until then.

Although maybe they would let some of the industry experts (Car & Driver, Motortrend, etc) get a crack at a few on a closed test track.

As far as the YouTube reviewers though, I think those are just regular customers that probably won't get one before the rest of us.

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