Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday stated it’s including Escape crossovers to its roster of cell service automobiles, along with Transit vans, so sellers can develop their attain and extra shortly handle remembers and different points.
The automaker stated that by yr finish, its retailers will launch 1,000 Escapes for gentle upkeep and restore work, software program updates and a few recall fixes. Every Escape can be upfitted with a jumper cable charger, inverter, and harness and instruments offered by the seller, Ford stated.
Ford stated the Escapes could possibly be used to deal with practically 70 p.c of its present remembers.
Participation in its cell service program is voluntary, Ford stated. Dealerships that enroll can order an Escape or use both a 2022 or 2023 mannequin they have already got in inventory.
“Including the Escape to the cell upkeep fleet now offers our smaller-volume sellers the power to offer this handy service to extra prospects,” Todd Rabourn, North America regional buyer expertise director, stated in a press release. “These Escape automobiles are hitting the street to offer all the pieces from software program updates to gentle repairs, plus providing the power to speed up how we resolve present remembers.”
All automobiles in this system should have embedded Wi-Fi or means for Web entry, Ford stated.
In latest months, the automaker has expanded its cell service choices. Ford stated it hopes to supply 1,400 cell service vans by the top of 2023.
Carm Scarpace, companion at Westfield Ford in Countryside, Unwell., stated his retailer has been deploying an Escape since April. It’s sometimes used for six to 10 jobs per day, together with air filter replacements, tire adjustments and easy recall repairs.
“The response is so sturdy,” Scarpace instructed Automotive Information. “It has been fairly shocking to us how the shoppers have welcomed this.”
Scarpace additionally makes use of a Transit van for cell service and plans so as to add a second Escape within the coming weeks. He stated this system has helped the dealership increase its service income and appeal to new technicians who could not at all times need to be tied all the way down to working within the retailer.
“It is positively helped improve income as a result of it provides capability, it is like including further stalls,” he stated. “It is helped convey prospects to us. There is a sure expectation from a technology of shoppers who do not feel like they’ve the time to come back drop their automotive off with us. They anticipate to have the ability to have comfort.”
Editor’s be aware: Carm Scarpace, companion at Westfield Ford in Countryside, Unwell., stated his retailer makes use of its Escape for six to 10 cell service jobs per day. An earlier model of this story used an incorrect determine.