I see Ford have culled another 50 dealers from their new car sales network, though it seems most are still official service points. So they've just about achieved the aim of halving the network that was announced about 5 years back.

My "local" is on the hit list - now servicing and used car sales only, as is the other independent that I used to frequent when I lived elsewhere. So if I wanted to buy another new Ford (highly unlikely) the nearest to me now are a Stoneacre branch or one of the TrustFord outlets.

Where do you see which are affected?

1 hour ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I see Ford have culled another 50 dealers from their new car sales network, though it seems most are still official service points. So they've just about achieved the aim of halving the network that was announced about 5 years back.

My "local" is on the hit list - now servicing and used car sales only, as is the other independent that I used to frequent when I lived elsewhere. So if I wanted to buy another new Ford (highly unlikely) the nearest to me now are a Stoneacre branch or one of the TrustFord outlets.

@Eric Bloodaxe One franchise a few miles from me has also been axed, its now going to Citroen !

6 minutes ago, Delboy777 said:

@Eric Bloodaxe One franchise a few miles from me has also been axed, its now going to Citroen !

The way Stellantis is talking I'm not sure Citroen will be around much longer either.

3 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

The way Stellantis is talking I'm not sure Citroen will be around much longer either.

Im quite sure a a lot of them will disappear ove the coming year or two 😔

24 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Where do you see which are affected?

I haven't found a full list yet, just articles in trade mags websites mention the total. I knew about my locals, anyway, otherwise it's a matter of doing a search on the dealer locator, unless anyone  knows a way to get a full dealer list**. I put in "England, United Kingdom". The locator shows up outlets still selling new and the ones doing service only, but you have open the "services" sub-menu for each dealership.

https://www.ford.co.uk/dealer-locator#/search/England, United Kingdom

 

** Oddly I found one for the US and Canada, but not UK.

Even that dealer locator isn't that accurate.

The dealer I got my car from, still offers new cars, but they buy through a bigger local group so it doesn't show anyway.

There's a lot of change going on in various brands networks at the moment. For example my local Mazda was fairly recently taken over by another independent, only for the whole lot now to be swallowed by Vertu. Another local Hyundai/MG set up is now part of the DRIVE group.

12 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

The dealer I got my car from, still offers new cars, but they buy through a bigger local group so it doesn't show anyway.

Perhaps that wouldn't count as an "official" new car sales outlet?

4 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Perhaps that wouldn't count as an "official" new car sales outlet?

Probably for the sake of Ford saying they've reduced dealer numbers.

My dealer did it because they are an independent and they get better prices buying together with another small group.

1 minute ago, alexp999 said:

My dealer did it because they are an independent and they get better prices buying together with another small group.

My service is due  at the end of March so I'll see if I can find out if my local is doing anything similar. 

Not just ford, alot of manufacturers doing the same. Suzuki are reducing from 129 to 100. 

My local Hyundai dealer of 20+ years no longer sells new Hyundai's. 

 Local ford dealer group lost 2 out of 3 locations. 

1 hour ago, iantt said:

Not just ford, alot of manufacturers doing the same. 

Yes, the world's changed from the days when you could drive round several dealers and see who would give the best deal on the model you were interested in. Different dealerships within the same company would compete with each other and discounts for cash were readily available.

Not these days though - any incentives seem to be controlled by the manufacturer and are usually in the form of "deposit contributions" or different finance rates anyway. If you mention a cash deal they look at you as if you were from another planet!😀

 

5 hours ago, alexp999 said:

The dealer I got my car from, still offers new cars, but they buy through a bigger local group so it doesn't show anyway.

It sounds as if they are going back to the system I remember in the 1960's/70's.

Then there was a network of main dealers, and each main dealer supplied local "retail" dealers with new cars and spares.

Retail dealers were supported by Ford as regards service info, warranty support, and training for mechanics etc. I remember going on courses at Langley (near Slough) when they were building "D" series trucks and "R" series coach chassis there, together with Transits. I can also remember going on a course at a purpose built training school at Daventry as well (I think this was at a central parts distribution centre).

Once the Puma ICE has gone Ford will be a minority player in Europe and especially the UK.

41% UK Market share in the early 80's, now at 5.5%, once Puma ICE goes they will be at about 1.5 to 2%

Ford's European days are numbered, USA on a downward trend too

Yes, Citroen and, even more so, DS future at risk (and Lancia)

Renault/Nissan in serious trouble too

56 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Renault/Nissan in serious trouble too

Yes, a merger with Honda was under discussion but it looks as if all bets are off for now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2k1321nedo

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Once the Puma ICE has gone Ford will be a minority player in Europe and especially the UK.

41% UK Market share in the early 80's, now at 5.5%, once Puma ICE goes they will be at about 1.5 to 2%

Ford's European days are numbered, USA on a downward trend too

Yes, Citroen and, even more so, DS future at risk (and Lancia)

Renault/Nissan in serious trouble too

Ford might end up selling off their european arm like GM did. Especially if the R&D needed for the US and Europe keeps diverging.

9 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Ford might end up selling off their european arm like GM did. 

The van side still seems to be doing ok, but that seems quite possible for the car side I would think. Stellantis, Renault and VW all have recently developed platforms for small(ish) EVs, Ford don't. But does the brand name still have much appeal anyway to car buyers?

They've been trying to sell the Saarlouis plant in view of Focus product ending shortly, but afaik haven't even had takers for that?

 

1 hour ago, alexp999 said:

Ford might end up selling off their european arm like GM did. Especially if the R&D needed for the US and Europe keeps diverging.

Ford will never sell the Ford badge.

They got rid of commercials by shutting the Large HGV unit down and then up to class 3, which was the Cargo was sold to Iveco with the deal being Ford/Iveco Cargo then Iveco/Ford Cargo then the name disappeared.

I think Ford EU will just keep selling Ford badged VWs, Ford EU is finished already

7 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Ford will never sell the Ford badge.

They got rid of commercials by shutting the Large HGV unit down and then up to class 3, which was the Cargo was sold to Iveco with the deal being Ford/Iveco Cargo then Iveco/Ford Cargo then the name disappeared.

I think Ford EU will just keep selling Ford badged VWs, Ford EU is finished already

Ford HGV's are now being produced in Turkey, sold in Europe, but they are not sold over here.

 

Haven’t they invested heavily in the Halewood plant though? They make the EV drive trains for the Puma and others there?

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/electriccars/article-14151949/Fords-injects-380m-Halewood-plant-make-power-units-EVs-Puma-Gen-E-securing-700-jobs.html