Where is Ned Ludd when you need him?
Whoever filled the patent obviously didn’t consider the optics of this. I’m in the market for a new car and was considering a Ford. This will factor into my decision.
My last Ford was a Focus with the dual clutch transmission, it was a complete fucking lemon (to the point where they were successfully sued over it and have done multiple recalls to fix it). I can excuse an automaker for the occasional shit car if their overall lineup is good and they’re honest with customers, but they knew the transmission was majorly flawed and continued to manufacturer vehicles that used it anyway. I’ve had it refuse to shift while I was driving on the highway before, which left me redlining at maybe 45 MPH. Dangerous and it could have gotten someone killed. I will never buy another Ford.
The pictures of stacks of failed clutches in r/justrolledintotheshop were enough to convince me.
Ford had a habit of inventing new systems, but slapping them on the first couple model years of any vehicle before they seem ready.
My dad had a first-gen Explorer Sport Trac with many notorious problems. My favorite was that both inside back door handles broke off it was like being locked in a police car back there.
as is traditional, one of our corporate innovators seeks to protect citizens (never simply consumers, no, no!) with a defensive patent - sure to now be locked away in a safe until natural corporate patent expiration 1000 years hence.
now and forevermore we shalll sing in praise of this beneficent corporate citizen and their efficacious lawyerly thrust deep into the heart of our once inevitable (but now vanquished) future boring dystopia of ads beamed directly into our brains 24/7.
Please drink verification Coors Light to continue
Not to defend the mega corporation, but companies file patents for ridiculous things all the time that never end up actually being made or used.
