The Mustang Mach-E is Ford's electric golden child. Since the crossover debuted, it's been a hot seller for the Blue Oval, with demand outstripping supply. This seems to be the case for the 2023 model year, with Ford having to pause orders for the entry-level Select trim.

A company spokesperson said that customer demand for the '23 Mach-E has surpassed projections for some variants. "For Mustang Mach-E Select, we have already increased production well above original projections. To further help manage supply constraints and provide more predictable order-to-delivery times for all of our customers, we are pausing retail orders on the Select model."

Don't panic if you've already ordered a Select model - Ford says clients with existing orders will not be affected by this pause. This is remarkable, especially when you consider order books only opened in late August. A quick glance at Ford's website will confirm this. Just three models - Premium, California Route 1, and GT - are the only models available on the configurator.

This isn't the first time Mustang Mach-E demand has outstripped supply. In April this year, the automaker suspended all 2022 orders. At the time, the configurator displayed a message that read, "due to high demand, the current model year is no longer available for retail [orders]. Limited inventory may be available at selected dealers. Contact your dealer for more information."

While it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, many potential Mustang Mach-E buyers will be left in a quandary. A price increase has pushed the Model Y rival even further out of reach. With the Select model no longer available to order, the "cheapest" option is now the Premium, at $54,975 - not exactly affordable. Still, the price should come down once the EV tax credit incentives are applied.

This spate of price hikes hasn't doused enthusiasm for the electric crossover. Ford announced it managed to sell 3,120 examples of the Mustang Mach-E in August, which represents a 115% year-on-year increase. More impressively, a staggering 7,800 orders had been recorded at the time.

For the 2023 model year, Ford gave the Mustang Mach-E a few updates. Aside from loftier pricing, the range is now available with two new metallic colors (Carbonized Gray and Vapor Blue) and additional features. Ford's Co-Pilot360 Driver Assist system is now standard across the board, while the GT models receive a panoramic glass roof at no cost to the customer.

The bump in MSRP is disappointing but understandable. Supply chain issues and parts shortages are making things incredibly difficult for automakers, who have little choice but to increase pricing. Still, at least the Mustang Mach-E wasn't subjected to the F-150 Lightning Pro's high price increase. The base model is now more than $51,974 - up from the original $39,974 price tag.