Ford Retail has teamed up with the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to provide driver training at selected dealerships to give tips on saving money on motoring.

Ford piloted its Eco-Drive idea last year but the scheme will roll out across 38 of Ford Retail’s 59 dealerships from now until March.

Customers will have to pay £10 to cover the cost of the 50-minute lesson which is conducted with professionally-trained instructors.

Participants will gain practical advice on how to cut fuel costs by up to 15%, which may create individual savings of up to £250 a year.

Chris Hayden, Ford Retail chief executive, is expecting the events to be popular and is aiming for 1,000 lessons to be taken by March.

They will highlight Ford’s economical Econetic models but, more importantly, how to get better economy from any car.

Hayden said: “Obviously Ford is really excited about the Econetic models, but we’ve got to transfer that excitement to a local level.

“Three years ago customers weren’t really asking about economy or emissions, but now pretty much everyone will mention it.”

If the scheme is as successful as Hayden expects, he wants Ford Retail sales executives to incorporate the driver training – for free – into normal test drives at all dealerships.