Ford Dealership Renovation Program Not High On List For All Dealers

To stay at the top, auto dealers need the very best facilities and equipment. That's why Ford has pledged to match cash on its newly announced dealership restoration program. Dealerships in the U.S. will be equated to $750,000.

Ford dealership restoration program differs from past efforts

In order to encourage dealership advancement, Ford is putting together an incentive program that has nothing to do with customer scores or sales volume, according to Ford's Ken Czubay. He explained that this is very different from past efforts.

"It is our affirmative action to support our dealers in a great low-interest, growing market," he said.

The idea is to bring the dealerships all up to a certain standard with matching.

All car dealerships in the program

Ford has already had 70 percent of the Ford Lincoln dealerships agree to participate in the program, though Ford is hoping that all of its dealerships and affiliates will be willing to be part of it. Ford did not announce how much money it promises to spend on the program though.

"This is about making sure the customers get in the store, get in the service department, they have a great modern experience," said Jim Farley, Ford and Lincoln's executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service. "It's not about just beautiful brand signs and what the dealership looks like on the outside."

Not all dealers upset

A recent NADA survey showed that Ford dealerships are not super excited about the idea of standardization, according to the Detroit News, but there's a general assumption that the program will create a more uniform look. Most dealerships are okay with the idea though.