Ford Customization From The Comforts of Home

ORLANDO, FL - Feb. 13, 2006: At NADA this week Ford will preview an improved vehicle personalization web site with a brand new feature called the Accesserizer. The Accessorizer allows Ford, Lincoln and Mercury customers to accessorize the 2006 vehicle of their choice – in any production color and with any accessory from Genuine Ford Accessories. The customer also can send a list of the accessories they chose for their "dream vehicle" to a local Ford, Lincoln or Mercury dealer for a final price quote. An online accessories catalog that covers 2004-2006 model years also is available on the site. Customers can select accessories from the online catalog, put them into a shopping cart, and send the cart to their local dealer to receive a final price quote. Downloadable print catalogs are available in pdf format and can be saved to the customer's desktop or printed out.

"The Accessorizer feature will allow a customer to customize their dream vehicle right from the comfort of their home," said Susan Prater, Genuine Ford Accessories Communications and Merchandising Manger. "The customer can print his or her choices, then take it to a local Ford, Mercury or Lincoln dealer and say 'I want this vehicle with these Genuine Ford Accessories'. The customer also will have the ability to email a shopping cart to a friend, which is a great way for the customer to let friends and family know what is on his or her wish list for a special occasion such as a birthday."

The Accessorizer covers all current Ford, Lincoln and Mercury model year makes. It allows the customer to view the vehicle in three views (front ¾, side, and rear ¾). The customer can print the accessorized vehicle and receive a three-view printout, plus a list of all the accessories on the vehicle that can be e-mailed to the dealer.

The new website makes it easier for customers to connect with dealers. It also is a tool that sales consultants can use during the buying discussion at the dealership to show various ways the customer can customize his or her new vehicle purchase.

"This site will make the vehicle personalization process so much easier for both the customer and the dealer sales consultant because the customer won't have to hear 'Well, just imagine this blue vehicle in red and with these Genuine Ford Accessories on it.' said Prater. "Now the customer can see exactly what the sales consultant is describing as if the vehicle was physically in front of them." This web site has both a customer and dealer version each designed to visually engage the user. The previous website was more like a parts look-up catalog. The new site has minimal number of clicks to see a product image. The layout of both the dealer and customer websites are much more user friendly and easier to navigate.

Not only is the web site well designed and visually appealing, it is more engaging for a customer to use and it begins to create a relationship with both the Genuine Ford Accessories brand as well as with the vehicle brand. "The experience with the Accessorizer allows our customers to 'see' their dream vehicle in the color they want and with the accessories they want…the true opportunity to personalize their ride," said Prater. "And for our dealers, the Accessorizer allows them to show the customer different ways to customize a vehicle that they're thinking of purchasing."

The Accessorizer will be available to our customers from fordaccessoriesstore.com. We are working with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury divisions as well as Myford.com to also integrate this into their websites. The official launch is scheduled for March 15, 2006.