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Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives in Tulsa and San Diego

24 November 1997

Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives in Tulsa and San Diego

    DETROIT, Nov. 24 -- Ford Motor Company has reached
an agreement in principle with Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers in Tulsa to
establish a Ford Retail Network (FRN) in that market, according to Tom Wagner,
vice president of Customer Satisfaction and Communication.
    The company is also proceeding with a modified version of the FRN project
with Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the South County area of San Diego.
    "We are heartened by the reception by the dealers in Tulsa and San Diego
to the FRN concept.  These are significant first steps in setting up a formal
retail network," Wagner said.  "When established, this move will not only
enable our dealers to compete against the real competition -- but 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 or partnership involving all of the Ford and Lincoln-Mercury
dealerships in the Tulsa market area.  In San Diego, the project includes four
Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in the South County area that were purchased in
recent months by Ford.
    Ford's FRN concept involves fewer, larger full-service outlets
supplemented by neighborhood service centers providing convenient,
competitively-priced service to customers.
    "Customers will be the real winners in this new way of doing business,"
Wagner 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."

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company