More than 19,000 orders for new Ford Ranger, Raptor and Everest

Ford Australia says it has received more than 19,000 orders across the 2022 Ford Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest line-ups as demand for the new-generation off-roaders soars before first examples arrive at dealers later than expected on July 11.

As such, however, Ford has now also confirmed a nine-month delivery waiting time for new orders placed on the all-new 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor, as well as an eight-month wait for the 2022 Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 and a seven-month wait for the 2022 Ford Everest Platinum.

Of those 19,000-plus orders, mainstream Ranger variants predictably account for the biggest proportion, but Ford holds more than 4000 orders for the new petrol V6-powered Ranger Raptor – around double the number of Everest orders.

“We’re working with our team to do everything possible to get as many Rangers, Ranger Raptors and Everests as we can to customers as soon as we can,” Ford Australia communications director Matt Moran told carsales.

“Global semi-conductor and COVID-related supply chain challenges, combined with very high demand for certain variants, mean some customers will unfortunately face extended waits.”

It’s understood one of the biggest contributing factors in the Raptor’s nine-month wait time is limited availability of its standard Matrix LED headlights, supplies of which are among the many casualties of the Chinese lockdowns.

The same high-tech headlights, fitted to a ute for the first time, are also extending waiting times for the top-shelf Wildtrak V6 diesel.

Moran confirmed to carsales this particular variant’s eight-month waiting period is purely down to demand, and delivery times could be even longer for customers who have opted for the $1500 Premium Pack that adds a B&O sound system and, crucially, Matrix LED headlights.

Ford had forecast up to 20 per cent of Wildtrak buyers would opt for the Premium pack, but demand has exceed that figure four-fold and Ford now says customers can fast-track their delivery if they untick that option box.

“We have also seen very strong demand for the Premium Pack on the Next-Gen Ranger Wildtrak, which will take some time to work through given semi-conductor supply constraints,” said Moran.

“If customers choose to remove the Premium Pack from their order, they will be able to take delivery of their Ranger sooner.”

The news isn’t all bad, however, as these nominated wait times are the extremes (and flagships) for each respective model line, meaning someone who orders a mid-range Ranger XLT or an Everest Trend won’t have to wait that long.

“Depending on the dealer, location and specifications, there is still some stock available, so we encourage customers to talk to their nearest Ford dealer,” said Ford.

“We'd also remind customers we have much shorter wait times on other variants – for example if customers are looking for a Ranger with the 3.0L V6, we have the fully-equipped Ranger Sport or XLT, or if it's specifically a Wildtrak they're after, they could opt for the proven 2.0L Bi-Turbo. Similarly, the Everest Sport, Trend and Ambiente are currently more widely available.

“We fully understand that for customers waiting for their vehicle, a long wait can be frustrating. But we've worked hard to make sure the new levels of technology, capability and performance in the Next-Gen Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest mean they'll be worth the wait.”

The catch is Ford hasn’t published the waiting times for each and every model/variant on account of the sheer number of them, not to mention variations in individual specs, configuration and delivery locations.

“We want to reiterate that together with our global colleagues, we are working around the clock so that we can get customers their new Ford as soon as possible,” Moran continued.

“We’re committed to keeping customers updated on when their vehicle will arrive… we encourage customers to talk to their dealer.

“Together with our dealer network, we will continue to share regular status updates with customers, and notify them personally when their vehicle is built, in-transit, and ready for delivery.”

What makes this whole situation even more impressive is that nobody outside of Ford has been able to test drive or even sit in any of the new-generation T6 vehicles, and they won’t until they arrive in Aussie showrooms in three weeks.

That goes for the media too, although we have sampled a near-production Ranger development vehicle. The first Australian reviews are yet to be written or published, and won’t be until after the Ranger’s national media launch on July 12-13.

First Aussie driving impressions of the new Raptor and Everest, meanwhile, won’t be circulated until at least August, since their launches are a month behind the mainstream ute’s.

In the meantime, very limited stocks remain available for the outgoing Ford Ranger, production of which has now ended.

As for the rest of Ford’s model portfolio, new orders will be met with a roughly four-to-six-month wait on most models including the updated Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Puma and Ford Escape, while others won’t be arriving until early 2023.

These stragglers include the Ford Transit and Transit Custom, Ford Mustang and the Ford Escape PHEV.

An ETA on the updated Ford Focus ST hot hatch is conspicuous only by its absence, with Ford confirming it’s “experienced significant manufacturing challenges impacting existing and new customer orders” with more information to be shared “soon”.

However, full-size pick-up fans will likely rejoice at the news that the 2023 Ford F-150 is still on track for a local introduction in mid-2023.

The all-electric Ford E-Transit van and smaller E-Transit Custom are likewise unaffected at this stage and remain on target to arrive Down Under in late 2022 and 2024 respectively.

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