It would seem that Ford is indeed planning to bring back the Bronco 4x4. Actually, there isn’t an official press release, but we’d say the likelihood is roughly at a solid 90 percent. And an interesting anecdote pertains to how this information was revealed.
No further information besides the near-certainty of the nameplate’s eventual return was revealed with exception of its manufacturing concentrated around Detroit, Michigan - motor city. Last year, a contract proposal between the Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) was widely pointed to at hinting the Bronco’s comeback.
From that point until now, no further information has furthered the narrative. That’s when U.S Presidential nominee Donald Trump went on a rant lamenting American jobs being outsourced or outright moved out of the country, highlighting Ford particularly on its decision to move production of its Focus to its Mexico plant.
The move does make a lot of sense from Ford’s point of view as manufacturing large volume (with lower profit margins) models in the United States poses a large financial conundrum, especially when competing with rival automakers on price is of key importance. Conversely, producing high-margin products like the future Bronco and the Mustang within American borders will ensure a steady stream of jobs and would be cost-effective.
Not willing to concede a point to the GOP candidate, Ford CEO Mark Fields fired back at those accusations, citing the massive manufacturing emphasis it plans to bring into the country once certain models are shifted to being built in its offshore plants - the Focus and C-Max being examples.
Following that, Bill Johnson, chairman of UAW local 900, in an interview with the Detroit Free Press last week, let off this little nugget: "We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and the Bronco coming to Michigan Assembly that absolutely secures the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does.”
That incidental admission that the iconic Ford model will be making a resurgence following its 30 year, five-generation run from 1966 to 1996 - and built in Detroit, no less - was then curiously not commented on by Ford. That lack of denial only cements its high possibility. During the 1980s, the third-generation Bronco was also produced in Australia after having been sold here since its initial debut, and for some of us Down Under, the return of a locally produced successor does strike a chord.
We’ll have more on the all-new Bronco as information comes to light - hopefully it will look as good as the render above from Bronco6g.com. A firm timeline is not yet available, however, but a 2020 introduction seems likely.
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