Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives in Oklahoma City

3 September 1998
Ford Announces New Retail Distribution Initiatives in Oklahoma City
    DETROIT, Sept. 2 -- Ford Investment Enterprises Corporation,
a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company , has reached an agreement in
principle with Ford, Mazda, and Lincoln Mercury dealers in Oklahoma City to
establish the "Oklahoma City Auto Collection" -- a Ford Retail Network (FRN)
-- in that market.
    "We are heartened by the reception of the dealers in Oklahoma City to the
FRN concept," said Ross Roberts, president Ford Investment Enterprises
Corporation.  "This move accomplishes the most significant step in setting up
a formal retail network.  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
-- giving Ford a significant advantage over the other competitive brands in
the marketplace."
    The new approach to retailing cars and trucks includes the establishment
of a new entity or partnership involving four dealers owning nine dealerships
in the Oklahoma City market area.  Six are Ford franchised dealerships, one
Lincoln Mercury and two Mazda.
    The local dealerships include Expressway Ford, Fleming Ford, Dub
Richardson Ford, Fred Jones Ford of Edmond and Oklahoma City, Fred Jones
Lincoln Mercury, Fred Jones Mazda of Edmond and Oklahoma City and Fred Jones
Southwest Ford.
    Ford's FRN concept involves fewer, larger sales and service outlets
supplemented by neighborhood service centers providing convenient,
competitively-priced service to customers.  Customers will be able to search
inventory from their home computers, schedule maintenance and repair work
through the local website and shop for the complete line of Ford Motor Company
products under one roof.
    As one entity, local dealers will be able to consolidate advertising,
insurance, purchasing, information technology and parts distribution which
will reduce marketing costs.
    "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."
    Fred Hall, chairman, president and CEO of the Fred Jones Companies, Inc.,
will become the chairman and CEO of the new venture which is expected to
launch operations in November.  It will employ more than 1,000 people and
generate sales volume in excess of $500 million during its first year of
operation, making it one of the largest Oklahoma-based businesses.
    Ford launched the first retail enterprise in Tulsa on July 1, and the
second yesterday in San Diego.  Other projects have been announced for
Salt Lake City and Rochester, New York, making Oklahoma City the fifth such
venture.