Ford and PeoplePC Extends Partnership
7 December 2000
Ford Motor Company and PeoplePC Extends Partnership -- Wiring Up to 250,000 Blue Oval Certified Ford Dealers Employees
SAN FRANCISCO--Dec. 7, 2000--Ford Motor Company and PeoplePC Inc. , the company that makes it easy and affordable for people to get online and participate in the digital economy, today expanded their efforts to create one of the most 'e-literate' workforces in the world, by making PeoplePC's comprehensive computer and Internet package available to up to 250,000 U.S. Blue Oval Certified Ford dealerships employees. This is one of a number of benefits to be provided through Ford Motor Company for Ford dealers and their employees who demonstrate excellence in customer satisfaction.
In February 2000, Ford and PeoplePC teamed together to develop a program that offers personal computers and Internet access to the over 365,000 Ford Motor Company employees around the world. Building upon the relationship between PeoplePC and Ford Motor Company, Ford will offer all eligible employees of Blue Oval Certified U.S. Ford dealerships a PeoplePC bundled package, which includes a new, name-brand computer, 42 months of unlimited Internet access and 24/7 technical support and great online deals, as part of a comprehensive benefits package.
"We saw such an incredible response to the initial program that we knew it made sense to extend the offer to the employees at the certified dealerships as well," said Nick Grouf, founder and CEO, PeoplePC Inc. "This dealership incentive program is a core component of PeoplePC's channel strategy to work with large corporations and help them develop deep and interactive relationships with their employees and customers."
"Ford is proud to partner with PeoplePC to realize our shared mission of wiring workers to make them as informed and empowered as possible in the information age," said Jim O'Connor, president, Ford division, Ford Motor Company. "This opportunity benefits Ford, PeoplePC and, most of all, the large number of Ford dealers and their employees across the United States."
PeoplePC pioneered the Wired Workforce program and is offering its complete computing solution not only to the employees of Ford Motor Company and Ford/Lincoln dealerships, but also those employees of Delta Air Lines , the New York Times Company and the members of the unions affiliated with the National Trades Union of Singapore. The company has extensive experience in managing highly complex, customized employee connectivity programs on a global scale, enabling corporations to help their employees gain the tangible business and personal benefits of e-literacy.
The initial program has already reached hundreds of thousands of Ford employees across the globe. PeoplePC and Ford anticipate that the dealership program will begin rolling out in January 2001, rendering Ford's workforce one of the most technologically literate in the world.