Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives
19 May 1998
Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives in Salt Lake CityDETROIT, May 18 -- Ford Motor Company has reached an agreement in principle with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers in Salt Lake City to establish a Ford Retail Network (FRN) in that market, according to Ross Roberts, president Ford Investment Enterprises Corporation. "We are heartened with the reception by the dealers in Salt Lake City to the FRN concept. These are significant first steps in setting up a formal retail network," Roberts said. "When established, this move will not only enable our Salt Lake dealers to compete more effectively against the real competition -- but also will help them deliver a consistently superior customer experience at our sales and service outlets." The new approach to retailing cars and trucks includes the establishment of a new entity involving 15 Ford, Lincoln Mercury and Mazda dealerships in the Salt Lake City market area. Ford's FRN concept involves fewer, larger sales and service outlets supplemented by neighborhood service centers providing convenient, competitively-priced service to customers. Ford is moving forward with similar enterprises this summer in Tulsa and San Diego. "Customers will be the real winners in this new way of doing business," Roberts said. "This approach will provide the ultimate convenience to customers both when they purchase or lease a vehicle and when they have their vehicle serviced."