Ford Division Dealers Show Broad Support For Online Internet Venture Launched in August
28 September 2000
Ford Division Dealers Show Broad Support For Online Internet Venture Launched in August
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 28 The Ford Dealer Council,
representing 4,200 dealer-members across the U.S., announced today that nearly
80 percent of its eligible members have agreed to participate in
FordDirect.com , the Internet-based enterprise launched in late August to
bring online purchases of Ford brand cars and trucks to customers.
As of today, 3,194 of the 4,080 eligible Ford dealers in the U.S., or 78
percent, have submitted letters of commitment to participate in FordDirect.
These dealers represent 90 percent of Ford Division's annual car and truck
volume.
Support throughout the entire dealer body has been broad. Among the top
1,200 Ford dealers ranked by sales, 92 percent have agreed to participate, and
in 11 of 17 U.S. sales regions, participation exceeds 90 percent.
Participation among select dealers, who operate largely in less populated
areas, the rate exceeds 62 percent. Complete totals by region and by sales
category follow.
"I have never seen the Ford dealer body so united and enthusiastic over a
single proposal," said Jerry Reynolds, chairman of the national Ford Dealer
Council. "Thanks to them, we're far ahead of any competitor. The speed by
which they have embraced FordDirect is very gratifying to me and the leaders
of the Dealer Council," he said.
On August 25, the national Ford Dealer Council launched FordDirect.com in
Dearborn. Dealer meetings followed in 30 cities across the U.S. The first
site is expected to become operational in California in October with full
implementation across the U.S. to follow and conclude by the close of next
year.
The origin of FordDirect stems from a joint decision made last winter
between Ford Division dealers and Ford Motor Company to make e-commerce a top
priority and to develop, own and manage a new company with its own site to
offer consumers the same convenience they have found in other Internet
shopping experiences. FordDirect's website will allow customers to configure,
select, price, finance and initiate the purchase and schedule the delivery of
a new car or truck from participating Ford dealers all online within minutes,
24 hours a day, seven days a week. The transaction will be completed by a
local Ford dealer chosen by the customer, who can provide the necessary off-
line support both during and after the sale.
The new commercial enterprise will be jointly owned and supported by
participating Ford Division dealers and Ford Motor Company with an independent
management team appointed by the venture's board of directors. Dealer
participation, however, is voluntary.
FordDirect will enable consumers to select specific cars or trucks with
the desired equipment, color, and trim from inventories available at their
preferred dealers. A special FordDirect e-price will reflect the maximum
price a dealer may charge a consumer using FordDirect for a vehicle configured
by the consumer.
The following tables provide the number and percentages in each of Ford
Division's 17 sales regions who have chosen to participate as of Sept. 28,
2000.
All Dealers
Participating Dealers
Region Name Number %
Atlanta 272 72.0%
Boston 136 74.3%
California 215 93.9%
Chicago 212 67.9%
Cincinnati 200 84.4%
Denver 171 81.4%
Detroit 173 82.4%
Kansas City 220 65.9%
Memphis 227 79.4%
New York 202 87.4%
Northwest 128 81.0%
Orlando 122 95.3%
Philadelphia 128 87.7%
Pittsburgh 183 70.9%
Southwest 304 82.8%
Twin Cities 190 70.6%
Washington DC 111 77.1%
Grand Total 3194 78.3%
Top Volume Dealers
Participating Dealers
Region Name Number %
Atlanta 105 92.1%
Boston 40 83.3%
California 130 92.9%
Chicago 61 84.7%
Cincinnati 51 92.7%
Denver 56 94.9%
Detroit 69 89.6%
Kansas City 49 87.5%
Memphis 54 98.2%
New York 80 94.1%
Northwest 34 97.1%
Orlando 75 97.4%
Philadelphia 63 98.4%
Pittsburgh 52 85.2%
Southwest 118 96.7%
Twin Cities 22 66.7%
Washington DC 50 92.6%
Grand Total 1109 91.9%
Smaller Market Dealers
Participating Dealers
Region Name Number %
Atlanta 60 45.5%
Boston 24 54.5%
California 30 93.8%
Chicago 89 56.7%
Cincinnati 40 64.5%
Denver 73 72.3%
Detroit 60 70.6%
Kansas City 96 53.6%
Memphis 97 66.0%
New York 32 65.3%
Northwest 31 55.4%
Orlando 9 75.0%
Philadelphia 15 62.5%
Pittsburgh 62 59.6%
Southwest 120 80.0%
Twin Cities 117 64.3%
Washington DC 21 58.3%
Grand Total 976 62.9%