08-17-2006, 06:38 AM
Ford to Prune Dealer Network
The Daily Auto Insider
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
August 2006
Ford plans to extend its North American restructuring to its retail network by consolidating dealerships in 18 major markets, the Associated Press reported.
Ford, which currently has about 4,300 Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide, said it plans to trim the number of dealerships it has in 18 metropolitan areas across the U.S. because of slipping car and truck sales. Ford's market share has declined from around 26 percent in the early 1990s to 17 percent at the end of July.
Most of the metro areas are east of the Mississippi River, but the company would not identify exactly what markets would be targeted.
All Ford dealerships except for one in New York City are independently owned and franchised by the company, company spokesman Jim Cain said. "Our goal is to work with our dealers to build a business model that's profitable for them, profitable for us and sustainable across the business cycle," he said.
The Daily Auto Insider
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
August 2006
Ford plans to extend its North American restructuring to its retail network by consolidating dealerships in 18 major markets, the Associated Press reported.
Ford, which currently has about 4,300 Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide, said it plans to trim the number of dealerships it has in 18 metropolitan areas across the U.S. because of slipping car and truck sales. Ford's market share has declined from around 26 percent in the early 1990s to 17 percent at the end of July.
Most of the metro areas are east of the Mississippi River, but the company would not identify exactly what markets would be targeted.
All Ford dealerships except for one in New York City are independently owned and franchised by the company, company spokesman Jim Cain said. "Our goal is to work with our dealers to build a business model that's profitable for them, profitable for us and sustainable across the business cycle," he said.