Thread regarding Ford layoffs

The roof chair can be called the Clampett option

I can imagine the “roof chair” lawsuits already…”they didn’t tell me I couldn’t let someone ride in it on a freeway at 70 mph.”

Wish they would go back to simple cars--great heating/cooling, great ride, and great stereo. All this other bs is putting too much complexity in the car.

@ 7vic most of those items seem better suited for an after market vendor. In reading the list after market vendors already produce everything but the retractable roof for several vehicles. As with everything else in this space, the small vendor invents, perfects and then the big bully tries to claim it as his own.

Really? More complexity for useless options. Anyone else see lawsuits ahead?

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a possible Ford Bronco roof chair system, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on September 21st, 2020, published on March 24th, 2022, and assigned serial number 0089067.

The removable roof is one of the more appealing aspects of the sixth-generation Ford Bronco, but it isn’t just for open-air enjoyment – the SUV’s roof is also quite strong. That makes it not only safe in the event of a rollover accident but also capable of carrying all sorts of cargo. Over the past couple of years, Ford has explored other uses for the Bronco’s roof via a number of patent filings, including one for a removable roof rack, another for a retractable roof, and one for a climbing ladder that doubles as a recovery board.

This new Ford patent shows off yet another potential use for the Bronco’s roof – a roof chair system that mounts to a roof rail once the top is removed. In this case, the chair can be installed using the same hardware that secures the roof panels, and could possibly also include a variety of other accessories including a heating function, lighting, speakers, and device chargers. Additionally, the roof chair system could also be integrated with the vehicle’s charging and lighting systems or have its own rechargeable battery included.

This idea certainly seems like a good fit for the Bronco, which already enjoys a robust catalog of roof-mounted parts and accessories. This includes things like roof tents and storage systems, so having the ability to sit in a high-mounted chair and relax while listening to some music at the campsite seems like a natural next step.

Don't think volumes were that big on rear seat entertainment before the chip crisis. Does anyone really want it or will this tactic drive demand?

"Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, so long as it is black." Henry Ford.

It seems we lost the wisdom about the production line requiring compromise so that efficiency and improved quality could be achieved.

"I will build a motor car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one—and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces. " Henry Ford.

It seems we lost sight of this maxim as well, since we build complicated designs with cr---y parts, by workers paid below average, and of course, we keep raising the prices and having quality issues like we don't have a care (or a competitor) in the world (but we do).

At least Ol' Henry was focus on a product. Bill Ford is focused on... IDK what exactly. Could someone woke translate this for me? Is the current purpose of Ford company and it says "To help build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams". What the heck does that mean? Are we now life coaches at Ford, instead of building vehicles? Maybe Ford should stick to the same phrase of all those model contests and wish for world peace. At least is something people can actually understand and support.