‘Ford revamps agency model publication’ | Cars Online

Ford will not continue publishing the agency model in its current form. International media reports this and confirmed by Dutch businessmen. In the coming weeks, the European dealer network will be updated on the revised plans. The manufacturer does not block the proxy model, but will fully modify it.

Ford saw its market share in the EU drop from 3.9 percent to 3 percent this year. In the Netherlands, which is the agency’s pilot country in the EU, it dropped from 4.1 percent to 2.8 percent.

One of the reasons for modifying the design is that the customer is not ready to complete the entire online shopping process. The introduction of the direct sales model was previously postponed until 2026. The dealer continues to play a major role in the purchase process, Ford concludes. At the same time, the manufacturer is satisfied with joint marketing and data sharing. The dealer continues to play an important role in the modified variant (the high-end model of the franchise, as Ford calls it).

Agency modeling is causing headaches for several brands. And many manufacturers are delaying their introduction. Other brands, such as Lotus, are now transitioning from an agency to a dealer model.

‘I’m not well prepared’
At the AM Traders seminar, Steve Young, managing director of ICDP, a research institute specializing in retail and after-sales, criticized the introduction of the agency model. “The developers have not prepared enough for this model to be released.” Read the article here.

Late

Late last week, Ford also said it was delaying the electrification of its lineup. There will be ample demand for fully electric vehicles. Instead, the company is now investing more in plug-ins. Ford’s EV business posted a loss of about €4 billion in 2023, compared to a €6 billion profit for the ICE division.