Ford has begun shipping some pickups and SUVs with missing features the automaker will add later. It’s an attempt to deal with a worldwide shortage of microchips.
The Detroit Free Press reports that Ford has begun building Explorer SUVs without rear-seat climate controls. Drivers can still control the rear-seat climate zone from the front seat.
“The Explorer’s rear-seat heating and air conditioning control, both the physical dial system and the semiconductor chip behind it, will be installed by Ford dealers at a later date,” a spokesperson says.
The missing controls won’t be obvious. A trim plate covers the missing panel.
Ford told the Free Press that customers would receive a discount for accepting an Explorer with the rear-seat climate controls missing but didn’t specify the price break.
The move comes months after Ford removed a fuel-saving start/stop feature from some F-150 pickups. Ford gave buyers a $50 discount to compensate for removing the start/stop device.
General Motors made a similar move with heated seats and steering wheels last year.
Experts expect the microchip shortage to ease late in 2022.
