To cement its confidence in the quality of its products, Ford is enhancing its certified used vehicle program with longer warranties. This comes at a key time for the manufacturer, as Ford’s used car sales are at an all-time high, with used vehicle sales growing by about 10 percent, in contrast to new car sales dropping by 8.9 percent in 2008 versus last year. Reports from industry analysts show similar gains in the used car market, on account of the slumping economy.
Last week, Ford increased powertrain warranty on its certified pre-owned vehicles to six years and 100,000 miles, up from the same time period but 75,000 miles and added a three month, 3,000 mile comprehensive warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance program. Certified Lincoln vehicles are now covered by a six-year, 100,000 mile comprehensive limited warranty, as per The Detroit News. The maker cites higher quality of its vehicles and the resulting lower warranty costs allowed it to make this change.
As expected, dealers are satisfied with the decision. “It’s a great help to our used-car business at a time when the new business is a little off,” said Bob Wheat, general manager of Village Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.
“There’s no finish line in the quality race,” said Ford Americas President Mark Fields. “We have to continue to run further and faster because I don’t want us to be statistically tied with Honda and Toyota . I want us to be No. 1.”
