Ford pushes back Edge and Lincoln MKX launch

The launch date for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers has been delayed, with news that Ford HQ has informed its dealer network that it’s pushing back the date until about mid-December instead of late November. The Detroit Free Press reports that the reasons for the delay surround quality aspects and the need to iron out supplier and assembly issues at the refurbished Oakville, Ontario, plant.

Parts suppliers were unable to deliver parts on time, with queues in other sections of production forming. Some cars have already been completed, but will wait at the factory lot until December. Most other carmakers delay vehicle launches, usually to ensure that quality is up to scratch. Even Lexus, quality’s gold standard, has delayed vehicles in the past to help iron out the bugs. Ford insists that the problem isn’t quality, but one of consistency and doubts that the delay will cause potential buyers to be more sceptical about the vehicles’ quality.

The new Edge crossover is one of Ford’s most important vehicles of the decade, with the company hoping the nee platform will help fill the void left from the decline of big truck-based SUVs. Ford hopes to sell at least 100,000 Edges a year and 30,000 or more MKXs.