Monday, November 2, 2015

Dealers Question Homogeneity In The Ford Dealership Renovation Program

By Cornelius Nunev


Ford Motor Co. wants its sellers in top condition. That's why the automaker has promised to match finances on its dealership renovation program, as an incentive to upgrade.

Attempts to renovate in the past

Ford's vice president of United States marketing Ken Czubay explained that the program was revealed at the NADA Expo in a way that is not tied to sales volume or customer scores. This is unlike other programs Ford has put together in the past to encourage dealership improvements.

"It is our affirmative action to support our dealers in a great low-interest, growing market," he said.

The idea is to bring the dealerships all up to a certain standard with matching.

All dealerships in the program

Ford has already had 70 percent of the Ford Lincoln dealerships agree to participate in the program, though Ford is hoping that all of its dealerships and affiliates will be willing to be part of it. Ford did not announce how much money it plans to spend on the program though.

"This is about making sure the customers get in the store, get in the service department, they have a great modern experience," said Jim Farley, Ford and Lincoln's executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service. "It's not about just beautiful brand signs and what the dealership looks like on the outside."

Some dealers okay with plan

A recent NADA survey showed that Ford dealerships are not super excited about the idea of standardization, according to the Detroit News, but there's a general assumption that the program will create a more uniform look. Most dealerships are okay with the idea though.




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