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Local Auto Dealers Launch Utah Auto Collection

18 March 1999

Local Auto Dealers Launch Utah Auto Collection

    DEARBORN, Mich., March 17 -- Thirteen Ford Motor Company
dealers in Salt Lake City today launched the Utah Auto Collection --
a new concept in automotive retailing designed to provide customers in that
region a maximum level of satisfaction in their automotive sales and service
experience.
    The Salt Lake City venture is a new partnership involving locally owned
Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda dealerships that will now work together as
one business unit.  Ford Investment Enterprises Corporation -- a subsidiary of
Ford Motor Company -- will be a minority shareholder.
    "The automotive business is undergoing a dramatic change and we want to be
part of its future," said Duff Willey, chief executive officer for the
venture.  "Being involved in the Utah Auto Collection allows us to be in the
forefront as a leader and not a follower."
    The Utah Auto Collection is the third such venture with another in
Oklahoma City slated for launch next week.  Under the concept, the new company
combines the resources, inventories and employee talents of all the
dealerships involved which ultimately benefits car and truck customers.
    "Our new approach to selling cars and trucks will include unique sales and
service outlets supplemented by neighborhood service centers providing
competitively-priced service to customers," Willey said.  The sales centers
will feature a large selection of both new and used vehicles, no-haggle
selling, non-commissioned salespeople, and a future state-of-the-art website
that will permit customers to search the inventory from their home computers.
    The 13 dealerships include 14 franchises -- seven Ford, three Lincoln
Mercury and four Mazda.
    Local dealerships in the Utah Auto Collection are Henry Day Ford, Ken
Garff Ford, Warner Superstore Ford, Tri-City Ford, Marion Willey & Son Ford,
Rick Warner Lincoln Mercury, Middlekauff Lincoln Mercury, Garff Bountiful
Lincoln Mercury, Garff Bountiful Mazda, Rick Warner Mazda, D. Dahle Mazda,
Quality Ford and Orem Provo Ford which includes a Mazda franchise.