Ford Wants to Prove Bronco’s Worth Where it Counts
Ford is expanding the Bronco’s role beyond recreation, announcing a new initiative aimed at putting its off-road SUV directly into the hands of search-and-rescue teams that operate in extreme conditions. The move follows a firsthand experience by Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, who last summer observed Grand County Search and Rescue in Utah using a Bronco to navigate difficult terrain during active rescue operations. The moment underscored a simple reality in backcountry emergencies – vehicle capability can determine whether help arrives in time.
For Ford, the Bronco is more than a lifestyle off-roader, but a tool capable of operating where infrastructure ends. Designed with locking differentials, advanced four-wheel-drive systems, and high-clearance suspension, Bronco was engineered for environments where traction, durability, and reliability aren’t optional. That same engineering focus is what makes it suitable for search-and-rescue work, where teams routinely push vehicles well beyond what most consumer SUVs are designed to handle.
Ford
“Answer the Call” Program Delivers Mission-Ready Broncos
That philosophy now takes shape in Ford’s new collaboration between the Bronco Wild Fund and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). Dubbed the Bronco “Answer the Call” program, the initiative will donate five specialized Bronco Badlands models equipped with the Sasquatch Package to search-and-rescue organizations in 2026. Two recipients, Kern County Fire & Rescue in California and Teton County Search & Rescue in Wyoming, have already been confirmed, with applications now open for three additional teams nationwide.
Ford is partnering with emergency equipment supplier Darley to upfit the vehicles with satellite connectivity via Starlink, drone systems for aerial reconnaissance, and heavy-duty winches and recovery gear. The goal is to deliver fully mission-ready vehicles to volunteer teams that often rely on personal equipment to do life-saving work. For NASAR, the program addresses a critical need, giving under-resourced teams access to vehicles designed to perform in remote, unpredictable environments.
Ford
Capability That Translates to Everyday Use
What makes Ford’s announcement notable is that the Broncos being donated are fundamentally the same vehicles consumers can buy. While the rescue units receive specialized equipment, the underlying platform, chassis, drivetrain, suspension, and four-wheel-drive systems are unchanged. That serves as real-world validation of Bronco’s engineering, proving it can withstand sustained abuse in environments far harsher than daily driving.
If a Bronco can be trusted by search-and-rescue professionals operating in canyons, mountains, and backcountry terrain, it’s more than capable of handling weather, poor roads, and unexpected challenges at home. By putting Bronco to work where failure isn’t an option, Ford is making a strong, no-nonsense case for its SUV as both a serious tool and a confidently overqualified daily driver.
