Ford to Have 900 EV-Certified Dealerships by Spring
By spring, Ford will have more than 900 dealers certified to sell its plug-in vehicles, or about a third of the American automaker’s dealers.
In November, 2012, Ford had about 200 dealers that were EV Certified and is currently ahead of where the American automaker projected it to be. Currently Ford has two plug-in vehicles available: the Ford Focus Electric and the C-Max Energi. Later this year, the Fusion Energi will join the lineup.
Increased demand for electrified vehicles has expedited the EV-certification process for its dealerships, which includes installing at least two on-site charging stations, including one in the customer parking area and one in the service department. In addition, dealerships must keep at least one of each plug-in vehicle in stock for demonstrations. Finally, 80 percent of the dealership’s sales consultants, sales managers, service managers, and service advisers must take specialized training in vehicle electrification.
SEE ALSO: 2012 Ford Focus Electric Review – Video
According to the American automaker, its shares of electrified vehicles increased three percent in April, 2012, to nearly 16 percent in December. Much of those sales are attributed to its hybrid models including the C-Max Hybrid and the Fusion Hybrid.
[Source: Automotive News]
Discuss this story at FordFocusElectric.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation