Car servicing skipped
May 20th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
FORD says 15 percent of car owners admit to putting off car services – or even skip them completely – to save money.
Younger drivers are the worst of all, adds the blue oval.
Even worse, 1 in 5 UK drivers has no breakdown cover to cover them for any subsequent breakdowns – and for younger drivers, this figure rises to 35 percent.
They clearly haven’t been reading Which? research, says Ford, which has found that 1 in 6 motorists experience a breakdown at least once a year.
Mike Weatherston, group service marketing manager at Hendy Ford, said: ‘It’s a story we hear often but while trying to avoid the cost, many of these drivers could regret skipping basic maintenance and roadside cover.’
Ford’s solution? Ford Assistance 12 – a Europe-wide roadside assistance programme, that comes as a low-cost option – or even FREE in some cases – for those who pay for scheduled services.
Ford is also helping customers spread the cost of servicing their car by introducing the ‘Ford Protect Service Assure’ scheme, which allows scheduled servicing to be paid in manageable monthly instalments.
Paul Muers, marketing manager, Ford Customer Service Division, said: ‘The importance of good maintenance doesn’t change, but we recognise the equal importance of maximising the affordability and convenience for customers.’
Tags: aftersales, Ford, incentive, service
May 20th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
That’s a massive untapped market in aftersales.
Which some dealers I have spoken with admit it’s an area in which they could do more with specific regard to regular, targeted communications such as eShots.