2019 Ranger Production Starts

[85_Ranger4x4]

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2019-ford-ranger-production-starts-michigan/

 

[sgtsandman]

That's about a month earlier than my buddy at a dealership was told (November 23rd) . Of course, the date he got for ordered trucks might be different anyway. I'm sure Ford wants some product on the lot ASAP, so the orders will wait a bit for that.

 

[fastpakr]

They definitely didn't start production today. I'd have to go back to Jim's recording of the session this morning, but they mentioned some things that still needed to happen before the line spins up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

They definitely didn't start production today. I'd have to go back to Jim's recording of the session this morning, but they mentioned some things that still needed to happen before the line spins up.

I saw that after I found this, I think they said next week maybe on Jim's video?

Possibly some of it is working, they have to make parts before they can make trucks.

 

[fastpakr]

That could be. They've definitely brought the teams in for early low rate test production. Somebody mentioned that they have made a couple hundred so far. I think we counted fifteen at today's event.

 

[Curious Hound]

A date like that is more of a publicity thing anyhow. That's the " official" start. But they've been making them already. It's more of a gradual build up than a sudden beginning. It take months to weld bodies together and test them. Then send a few to be used for programming robots to do the painting and body sealer. Then actually seal and paint some and analyze them for quality. Paint a few and send them to the assembly shop to be built and test and fine tune robots and work methods there. Get some finished and sent for safety testing and early publicity teasers. Etc. Etc. Then once they start building actual normal production cars, the production numbers creep up gradually while final bugs in the process are still being ironed out.

Here at BMW, I saw the first X7 body come into the paint shop early last spring for programming. But I believe we just announced the official start of production within the past week or two. Even though I have seen hundreds of them get painted already.

This message composed solely of recycled electrons. Go green!

 

[sgtsandman]

Yep, they are making them already. TFL Truck just posted a video about them today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm467VCQN-8

 

[fastpakr]

They have produced a few, yes. I took photos of the door stickers on two of them yesterday - both had September dates. The teams were brought in to run a set through to test. Full production has not begun. That was crystal clear yesterday when we were at the assembly plant.

 

[2002edgeplussupercab]

They have produced a few, yes. I took photos of the door stickers on two of them yesterday - both had September dates. The teams were brought in to run a set through to test. Full production has not begun. That was crystal clear yesterday when we were at the assembly plant.

Post the door stickers ?

 

[Jim Oaks]

Yep, they are making them already. TFL Truck just posted a video about them today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm467VCQN-8

Fastpakr and I rode in the van with that guy to the event. He saw what we saw. They did make around a 120-125 so employees could learn their jobs.

Post the door stickers ?

See attached.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Post the door stickers ?

You're welcome.

 

[fastpakr]

Here's the door sticker from the white XL:

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't have it hosted but the other one fastpkr sent me (it was silver) was 48 so it was quite a bit earlier.

 

[fastpakr]

Are you sure? The only ones I can find in my album are the 102 and 107 shown above.

Edit: You're right - just found it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Are you sure? The only ones I can find in my album are the 102 and 107 shown above.

Edit: You're right - just found it.

Must be a lot earlier, just noticed it has a July build date.