News - Page 1668

Customer focus; customer loyalty; gaining and retaining business - these goals are not easy, but we all know their book value. At Texaco we work hard to bring a distinct advantage to our customers throughout the supply chain; from the motorist, to the aftermarket and the manufacturer - and back round again.

Ford's goal is total customer loyalty. The company wants its customers not only to buy a Ford, but to have Ford look after the vehicle throughout its life - and to be so pleased with the service they receive they won't hesitate to choose Ford again. That's why Ford is making its dealers and their service prices more consistent and understandable through a scheme called Simple Service Pricing.

The launch of S-Type has been more successful than even Jaguar dealers could have hoped and one dealer manager told Automotive Management he was “embarrassed” at the profit margins he was making on the car.

Conspiracy theorists will delight in the news carmakers now own more of their own retail outlets than ever before.

At the dawn of the Millennium the established franchised dealer system faces an uncertain future. That inescapable fact is reflected in this publication, Automotive Management's third annual Franchising Report.