It's not big news that the Ford Bronco is one of the hottest new vehicles on the market right now. Since the sixth generation's introduction in July 2020, eager buyers have been flocking to the automaker's website and dealerships to place orders. There's still a waiting list. Part of the reason for this delay is the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage crisis, something neither Ford nor any automaker can do much about. Deliveries have been delayed because of this; there's currently a huge stockpile of Broncos parked outside in a lot near Detroit that still require those chips. Their owners are understandably frustrated. Due to this, the Blue Oval has been forced to make a tough decision.

The Bronco6G forum has managed to obtain a memo Ford recently sent to dealers informing them it is pausing all Bronco retail orders after March 7, 2022. The only exception to this is the recently revealed 2023 Bronco Raptor.

"Due to continued strong retail demand for Bronco and the desire to prioritize current order holders, we are making the decision to pause new retail orders of the 2022 model year Bronco - excluding Bronco Raptor - after Monday, March 7, 2022."

Retail orders for the Bronco Raptor will begin on March 8. Interestingly, this announcement comes just a few days after the carmaker announced updated 2022 model year Bronco pricing. The dealer memo further outlines a series of measures being taken to help increase the chances of additional Bronco orders being built this year. Examples include removing paint protection from still-to-be-completed factory orders. The only exception to this is the Bronco Wildtrak.

Customers who still want the paint protection can alternatively order it from the Bronco Accessory catalog for dealer installation at an additional cost. A $295 discount will take effect to reflect this update.

Another way for Bronco order holders to expedite their delivery date is to remove the Trailer Tow Option. It turns out that 62 percent of orders have checked the box for this but Ford says its build rate is currently 39 percent. As an alternative, Ford suggests a dealer-installed trailer hitch kit and a 4-pin wiring harness. Lastly, those hardtops continue to be in short supply so the recommendation is to switch to a soft top.