Post by TonyV on Apr 26, 2010 13:48:18 GMT -5
April 26, 2010
Ford touts fleet sales as priority
By BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford said today that maintaining a leadership position in commercial and government fleet sales is a priority for the company.
Ford produces six of the top 12 best-selling commercial fleet vehicles, said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, during a speech today before the National Fleet Management Association’s convention in Detroit.
“We love fleets at Ford … we love your business and we know how important it is to our country,” Fields said as he spoke to hundreds of buyers of vehicles from cities, counties and companies across the country.
Fields touted Ford vehicles ranging from the company’s new Police Interceptor which is expected to reach the market in 2011, Ford’s redesigned Super Duty pickup that was launched earlier this month and the company’s Fusion Hybrid sedan.
In 2009, Fields said fleet industry sales in the U.S. declined 29% to 1.7 million cars and trucks. However, Ford’s share of total sales increased two percentage points to 24.8%.
“The bottom line is, Ford vehicles tackle more emergency, law enforcement, highway construction, utility repair and other big jobs …than products from any other manufacturer,” Fields said.
In the past, Ford flooded daily rental buyers with fleet sales in an effort to boost sales and market share. That practice hurt Ford’s image and drove down resale values.
Now, Ford tightly manages its daily rental fleet sales and has increased its emphasis on government and commercial business fleets — areas of fleet sales that are both profitable and don’t hurt resale values.
“Ford remains focused on our disciplined approach to daily rental, making sure we help keep growing residual values,” Fields said.
Ford touts fleet sales as priority
By BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford said today that maintaining a leadership position in commercial and government fleet sales is a priority for the company.
Ford produces six of the top 12 best-selling commercial fleet vehicles, said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, during a speech today before the National Fleet Management Association’s convention in Detroit.
“We love fleets at Ford … we love your business and we know how important it is to our country,” Fields said as he spoke to hundreds of buyers of vehicles from cities, counties and companies across the country.
Fields touted Ford vehicles ranging from the company’s new Police Interceptor which is expected to reach the market in 2011, Ford’s redesigned Super Duty pickup that was launched earlier this month and the company’s Fusion Hybrid sedan.
In 2009, Fields said fleet industry sales in the U.S. declined 29% to 1.7 million cars and trucks. However, Ford’s share of total sales increased two percentage points to 24.8%.
“The bottom line is, Ford vehicles tackle more emergency, law enforcement, highway construction, utility repair and other big jobs …than products from any other manufacturer,” Fields said.
In the past, Ford flooded daily rental buyers with fleet sales in an effort to boost sales and market share. That practice hurt Ford’s image and drove down resale values.
Now, Ford tightly manages its daily rental fleet sales and has increased its emphasis on government and commercial business fleets — areas of fleet sales that are both profitable and don’t hurt resale values.
“Ford remains focused on our disciplined approach to daily rental, making sure we help keep growing residual values,” Fields said.