LAS VEGAS — Ford Motor Co., attempting to ease inventory constraints, plans to ship and sell partially built vehicles that are awaiting semiconductors or related components that control non-safety critical features, executives told dealers in a meeting here Saturday, according to three people present.
The plan is a revision of an idea floated in July, where Ford considered shipping partially built vehicles to dealers to sit on their lots until parts became available. Now, according to the people, the partially built vehicles Ford will send dealers will be both drivable and sellable.
Ford said it would send the necessary chips within one year for dealers to install in the sold products, the people said.
It was not immediately clear when the automaker would start shipping and selling the partially built vehicles, and dealers who attended the meeting said the company did not discuss what nameplates were involved.
However, Ford spokesman Said Deep told Automotive News Ford would build Explorers without rear seat heat controls that could be added later.