Bitter lesson was costly

Article Tools
Reprint Reprints image Print
Send a letter Respond Size: larger  smaller
Related Links
Related Topics
Donna Harris
Automotive News
June 16, 2003 - 12:01 am ET
Ford Motor Co.'s ill-fated attempts to participate in the retail revolution cost the company millions of dollars and soured relations with dealers.

The dot-coms and other outsiders that fomented the retail revolution brought changes to the industry. But traditional dealers triumphed, and Ford had to admit it needed its conventional dealer network to bring its vehicles to market.

Soon after becoming CEO in 2001, Bill Ford admitted that the company had wandered "too far away" from its core business. "You can't rebuild the business if you don't have strong partnerships," Ford wrote in a memo to the company's dealers.

In 2000, Ford scored worst in dealer input among 34 makes in the National Automobile Dealers Association's annual dealer attitude survey. Mercury and Lincoln had the second- and third-worst scores.

Contact Automotive News

image Print   Send a letter Respond to Editor   Reprint Reprints        

COMMENTS

Have an opinion about this story?
Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

Or submit an online comment below

Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments are subject to the site's terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Automotive News. Readers whose comments violate the terms of use may have their comments removed or all of their content blocked from viewing by other users without notification.



SUBSCRIBE | FREE ACCOUNT
Latest Headlines
Special Report
Dealer O.C. Welch's big-truck turnaround

Dealer O.C. Welch's big-truck turnaround

After Mercury's demise, South Carolina Ford-Lincoln dealer O.C. Welch had to find a way to replace lost revenue. He decided to load up on Super Duty pickups – and sell them online. Mon., June 17
» Watch the Video
     
Latest Job Listings
  • ALL POSITIONS
    Don Davis Dealerships, Inc. -- Lake Jackson, Texas, United States
     
  • Service Manager
    Performance Toyota -- Memphis, Tennessee, United States