The Ford Ranger, one of Australia’s most popular utes, is set to lose some of its high-tech anti-theft features due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. According to a dealer bulletin uploaded on social media, the updated Ford Ranger, known as ‘Model Year 2023.5’, will no longer be equipped with two anti-theft motion sensors. The omission of the interior motion sensor means the vehicle will not be able to detect when an occupant is in the cabin while the doors are locked. Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger’s vehicle inclination sensor will also be deleted, allowing thieves to jack up the ute without the alarm sounding.
Ford has advised dealers that the Ranger will be equipped with a ‘perimeter alarm’, triggered by the ute’s bonnet or doors being opened while it is locked. However, this alarm system may not be sufficient to deter experienced thieves, and many Australians are concerned that the loss of these features will put their vehicles at risk.
The leaked dealer bulletin also reveals that the Ranger won’t be fitted with heated exterior mirrors due to the semiconductor shortage. It is unclear which variants will be affected by this change as this equipment has not appeared in Ford’s spec sheets for the ute since March 2022.
The production of the updated Ford Ranger, which will be missing these features, is expected to begin in March 2023, with deliveries commencing in the middle of the year. This news comes as a disappointment to Australian drivers who were already anticipating price increases for the Ford Ranger, set to range between $250 and $1000, from March 2023 onwards.
Despite the loss of these features, the Ford Ranger is still expected to maintain its position as one of Australia’s best-selling utes. However, the ongoing semiconductor shortage is having a significant impact on the automotive industry, with many other automakers also experiencing production delays and component shortages. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, the semiconductor shortage could cost the global auto industry up to $110 billion in revenue in 2021 alone.
