The Ford F-150 is by far the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S. As a result, even the tiniest subtraction of features can easily save Ford millions of dollars per year. For the 2021 F-150, the American carmaker decided to cut costs by removing small features. According to Motor1, these small but important decisions likely free up extra cash toward developing new electric vehicles.

The 2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew saves $6 million per year

Although the 2021 Ford F-150 is a massive leap forward with tons of great features, it’s losing a couple. The Super Crew variant of the best-selling truck included proximity sensors in all four doors in previous generations. As a result, you were able to walk up to any of the four doors and unlock the doors, says Ford Authority. However, the brand-new F-150 no longer features sensors in its rear doors, meaning it can only be unlocked from the two front doors.

Motor1 reports that Ford found that very few owners actually use the feature. The American carmaker reportedly found this information by reviewing the connected vehicle data. This means that these new connected trucks are relaying useful data back to the manufacturer. Although the change may appear quite small, the results are significant. According to Motor1, a call with investors revealed that removing the sensors results in over $6 million saved per year.

Additionally, the call revealed that the same lack of use is present in prominent SUVs such as the Aviator, Explorer, Nautilus, and Edge. As a result, don’t be surprised if the 2021 Ford F-150 isn’t the only model to lose its rear sensors.

What other features are we losing?

Aside from the rear proximity sensors, the 2021 Ford F-150 is also losing a couple of extra features. For starters, Ford Authority report that paddle shifters will likely disappear from a variety of F-150 trim levels. Like with the sensors, the connected vehicle data demonstrates that not enough owners utilize the paddle shifters regularly to justify their cost.

Various trim levels of the 2021 Ford F-150 will also lose adjustable pedals thanks to the same connected vehicle data. While this may seem like a trivial feature, it could be vital for families that share a vehicle. Ford Authority’s comment section saw several F-150 owners chime in and say they rely on the adjustable pedals to share a vehicle with their family members. Additionally, there seems to be a negative reaction to the idea that a manufacturer can ax an important feature based on consumer usage data.

Why is Ford so focused on cutting costs?

Although removing features is by no means a new concept, the 2021 Ford F-150 seems to be quite focused on cutting costs. According to Motor1, the most likely scenario is that the American carmaker is preparing its fleet of electric vehicles and needs every available dollar for their development. When you consider the imminent arrival of the electric F-150, the cost-cutting measures begin to make sense. However, for the owners that love these small features, upgrading to the new truck means getting less for similar money.

On a positive note, there is also the possibility that these saved dollars will then be reinvested in popular features such as interior materials, the infotainment screen, or safety tech. For now, only time will tell what else will be removed from the best-selling truck.