Ford Mustang orders have been paused in Australia, as a result of the ongoing chip shortage, taking the market’s top-selling sports car off the table for the time being.
Ford is focussing on fulfilling existing orders, and hasn’t confirmed when orders will reopen for new customers.
“The global semiconductor chip shortage and supply chain challenges for various commodities continues to impact vehicle production for all automakers,” reads a notice on the Ford Australia website.
“The challenges facing the industry are fluid and we are doing our best to fulfil current customer orders on Mustang as quickly as we can.
“As such we are pausing any new orders for Mustang until we can get through the existing customer order bank.
“We understand this is frustrating and we will re-open for orders as soon as possible.”
Mustang GT California Special (overseas model shown)
Last month, Ford Australia put a notice on its website saying the Mustang was available to order, with arrivals set for 2023.
The updated 2022 Mustang arrived in the second quarter of this year, bringing new colours, standard Line Lock, and a new California Special appearance package for the GT.
Mustang deliveries are down 57.6 per cent year-to-date.
From January to the end of June, Ford has sold 760 Mustangs this year. It sold 1792 units during the same period last year.
Despite this, it’s still comfortably Australia’s best-selling sports car. The BMW 4 Series and Subaru BRZ are second and third, at 478 and 470 sales, respectively.
MORE: 2022 Ford Mustang price and specs: California Special joins range
It’s the latest Ford Performance model to be affected by semiconductor chip shortages.
A report from Automobilwoche this week said Ford is severely restricting availability of Fiesta and Focus models as it grapples with restricted supply and excessive delivery times.
Total Focus production this year will reportedly be around 117,000 vehicles, down from the 195,000 units initially projected.
The facelifted Focus ST’s local launch has already been affected, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has directly affected one of its suppliers.
Fiesta ST 
Focus ST
With supply of the new 13.2-inch Sync4 infotainment system affected, Ford Australia has chosen to delay the updated Focus launch to August at the earliest rather than sell cars with the old 8.0-inch Sync3 set-up as is being done in Europe.
The facelifted Fiesta ST, in contrast, is already at local dealerships.
The first 73 examples of the 2022 Fiesta ST built for Australia came without the Bang & Olufsen Play 10-speaker sound system, with a non-branded six-speaker sound system fitted instead.
Ford says this issue has since been resolved and all subsequent vehicles will have the correct sound system.
MORE: Everything Ford Mustang
