Early this year, 2023 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair production was temporarily paused at the Louisville Assembly plant over a software issue with the crossovers’ digital instrument cluster that was eventually resolved. Production got back on track shortly thereafter, as FoMoCo built just 494 2023 Ford Escape models in February, but managed to ramp that number up to 11,771 units in March and 12,805 in April. However, things really took off in May, according to the automaker’s most recent sales report.
Last month, Ford produced a grand total of 19,170 2023 Ford Escape crossovers, which represents a nearly 50 percent increase, month-over-month. That’s a massive improvement by any measure, and brings the model’s year-to-date total up to 48,141 units. However, its platform mate – the Corsair – didn’t fare quite as well, as The Blue Oval built just 3,917 copies of the luxurious crossover last month, bringing its year-to-date total up to just 6,955 units.
The Escape remains a popular entity among consumers after enjoying a 31.8 percent month-over-month sales increase in May as the automaker moved 11,733 crossovers. This popularity was at least partially reflected by the fact that the Escape Hybrid also made its long-awaited return to Kelley Blue Book’s list of the most considered electrified vehicles on the market following a prolonged absence, as that particular model cracked the top ten with its consideration among shoppers growing by a whopping 54 percent between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 – a change that can largely be attributed to the arrival of the refreshed model, as well as the fact that the plug-in model qualifies for the new $3,750 federal tax credit.
Retail order banks for the 2023 Ford Escape closed back in January, as Ford Authority previously reported. Dealer stock orders are still being accepted, though given previous production issues and ongoing supply constraints, the automaker isn’t guaranteeing that those models will get built, either.
We’ll have more on 2023 Escape production soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Escape news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
Isn’t the Hybrid under a recall and no delivery status for engine fires?
Why are 2023 Lincoln Corsairs sitting on the factory lot for over 1 month, built, waiting for shipment!? They are not waiting on chips, so why are they just sitting there? Seems like they parked them in the far corner of the parking lot, and simply forgot about them.
I would like the know the same thing. My car has been built since April 13th and has not been shipped.
A rumor going around in the threads is they are prioritizing shipment of vehicles without AXZ Plan pricing (and maybe other inceptives), because that makes them the most money immediately. They are “losing” money on the Plan pricing vehicles, so to boost up earnings for Q2, this may be the strategy across all of Ford right now. Tin Foil Hat conspiracy though. 😀
I could go along with that theory but there are 2023 Escapes on my dealers lot with the same basic specs as mine (ST Line – Select, AWD, Hybrid) that have been build after mine. I am on the X Plan but don’t think the dealer communicates that to the factory. I could be wrong on that however. I don’t know. I am so frustrated right now that I think I am going to the Kia dealership on Saturday. If I buy one, this would be the first non-Ford I bought in my entire driving lifetime (36 years).
Very interesting data point. Our Corsair is also X-Plan and is sitting at the factory lot with square wheels. Likely, Ford knows exactly which vehicles are rolling off the line on which days. A factory worker who drives cars all days from the line to the parking lot likely is told, “park this one in the lot over here, far away from the train cars”, and other’s are parked right next to the trains. I could see a computer assigning the parking location, potentially based off of which geography/train the car will travel on.
At that point, only someone who wrote the code at Ford corporate would know WHY certain cars are being put in different lots. Factory workers are just following what they are told to do. (First In First Out), doesn’t matter I guess…Tin Foil Hat keeps getting bigger.
same thing for me
I’m done. I am going to Kia tonight. It insulting that it is taking two months to ship a car from Kentucky to Pittsburgh. Every time I call Ford Customer Service, it is the same thing – waiting to be shipped and they don’t offer any other information except “check with your dealer”. The dealer claims they don’t have any information either.
Well, I never carried through on my “threat” to buy a Kia. After almost 3 months of my Escape being built, it was finally delivered to the dealership last night. I drove down to take a look at it. I’m glad I waited! It’s a really nice car.
Not stating as fact, but I wonder if it’s deliberate to ensure no new quality concerns have been found. Gives them an opportunity to fix them before shipping them off to dealers. I remember Ford using this strategy in 2005 with the all-new at the time 500.
They are shipping out Corsairs, spec’d exactly the same as ours, that were built weeks after. Possible there is a defect that has not hit the public, but Lincoln keeps sending out emails claiming the car will arrive any day now, when it hasn’t even put a wheel on a railcar.
They are probably waiting for the same software update that applied to the Escape.
Apparently there is a software problem with the 360 degree camera software that has them on hold, even at the dealers. Lincoln’s customer communications really needs an overhaul. Compared to the way Jeep communicated when I bought my GC Summit Lincoln is a total fail. Both top of the line price vehicles in Mercedes territory.
My daughter is getting her 2023 Escape in a few days. Ordered in March. Non-Hybrid.
My plugin hybrid Corsair was ordered September 13, 2022. Originally i was told to expect it in November or December. 13 email set backs later on build info and 3 emails regarding shipment and still no car and no more updates since mid May. My dealer says the factory says it’s been sitting on the lot since around April 23,2023. Window sticker they sent in the emails show a price increase of about $1500 over my original order costs. There are no rebates or incentives or 0% financing being offered and the $7000+ tax credits was for vehicles in position by April 18,2023. If and when my $60k car shows up I’m hoping Lincoln will give something in return for a car that should be sold as a 2024!! Poor communication and customer service. Shame on you Lincoln!!!
You should not be liable for any price increases after you placed your order. There was an increase in shipping price (I think ~$500) that I know of. Not certain about the rest of the increase. The Ford Video Guy discussed this increase several months back on Youtube. If you were quoted a price originally, that is what you will pay. Make sure you fight the dealer on that.
We ordered our 2023 Escape at the end of September, and finally took delivery 3 weeks ago.
The verdict is we really love the new Escape platinum non hybrid. It replaces our 2020 Explorer which was just too big for our current needs. It was worth the wait.
Love our 2023 Escape PHEV. It’s been fantastic!
We ordered a 2023 Ford Escape PHEV on 01/07/2023. Dealer knows nothing and Ford is extremely hard to get any answer at all. Any ideas? Or should we look at another brand??
Did you get your in production email yet?
Ford really needs to redo this vehicle. Can you imagine spending over 50k and still not getting ventilated front seats and heated rear seats? They also removed multi colour ambient lighting, puddle lamps, and mirror signals. Not to mention the new rear end lost amber signals and now are integrated with the brakes. There is so much cost cutting on this vehicle it’s insane! Also they added the outdated light bar across the grille..
The Platinum trim is really just an SEL with a Titanium trim package that costs an arm and a leg to add.
Ford needs some new designers ASAP!
I’m wanting to order am Escape hybrid platinum. Dealer suggests waiting until 2024 order window opens. He also says order deposit is non-refundable, non-transferable to another vehicle once they take my money. Common? Why? If the factory doesn’t tell you it’s in production, canceling doesn’t stick dealer with the car. He also indicated that Escapes are hard to find on lots because the “Escape isn’t popular”. I’m thinking shopping a different dealer not a different car.