Helping coordinate the Detroit 3's coronavirus response might be Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford's greatest accomplishment in a turbulent year that's seen him appoint a new CEO, launch a slew of key products, break from the Trump administration and oversee the automaker's implementation of a global effort to manufacture medical equipment.

The dealership is partnering with local schools by offering internships and employment opportunities to help steer students toward a career as a service technician.

The brand has largely avoided the negative business effects of the coronavirus pandemic by investing early in customer service experiences other automakers had to implement on the fly. New crossovers have also helped but may be dragging down its reliability scores.

Vijay Sankaran, who was supposed to be the automaker's next chief software and information officer, has elected not to take the job so he could "devote more time to my family and recharge."

The midsize crossover, Lincoln's top-selling model in 2019, has been overshadowed recently by newer models such as the Aviator and Corsair.

Ford detailed the new used-vehicle brand, called Ford Blue Advantage, to roughly 8,000 dealership employees during a three-day virtual meeting.

The automaker says the electric van's roughly $46,000 price tag, a $10,000 premium over the gasoline model, won't be a deterrent for businesses once they realize potential cost savings.

Jim Farley said building battery cells in-house could be a way to offset potential job losses as the automaker fields more EVs, which have fewer parts and are less complicated to manufacture.

The 2022 E-Transit will be offered in three configurations, with three roof heights and three body lengths, in an effort to give business owners a variety of options to match specific needs.

The electric van, set to be revealed Thursday, will go on sale in late 2021 as a 2022 model.

Quentin Strouss sold cars for 67 years and retired from Ron Lewis Ford with more than 12,000 sales under his belt.

The lender said it benefited from a "pretty big inventory" of used vehicles heading into the reporting period that it was able to sell into an improving market.

If you listen closely, you can almost hear the collective sound of Detroit auto executives knocking on wood after third-quarter earnings reports from Ford and FCA shattered expectations.

At a time when the #MeToo movement has shined a spotlight on abuse and discrimination in the workplace, the group now is pushing harder for policy changes that help women climb the automaker's ranks.