Ford is partnering with its dealers to bring 1,000 Escape SUVs to its mobile service platform later this year.
In an announcement on Tuesday, May 30, the automaker laid out plans to improve the efficiency of its mobile maintenance program. The 1,000 Ford Escapes will join the current service fleet comprised of several hundred Transit vans. Dealers participating in the program can use the vehicles to provide light repair and maintenance operations to consumers at their homes or work, although retailers must secure or supply their own car. By the end of the year, the automaker hopes to have 1,400 units in its fleet.
Ford’s mobile service program is part of its Ford Pro division, the result of a re-organization which separated the company’s departments by market or product rather than region. While more complex operations remain an in-house operation at the automaker’s dealers, consumers do gain access to convenient offerings such as oil changes, brake-pad replacement, tire rotation, etc. An important function of the platform is handling under-warranty and recall repairs. The company claimed that the addition of Escape SUVs to its fleet will allow it to handle 70% of these work orders.
Maintenance fleets are now operated by many dealer groups or manufacturers. The increasing popularity of mobile service platforms has been matched with innovations, such as app-based appointment scheduling, as well as a flurry of acquisitions for rising startups in the space. Scaling these programs will be essential for meeting the needs of younger generations, who often have less flexibility in their schedules and prioritize convenience.
