(Source: Autoblog)

Ford’s dealer development program works to help people become dealer principles who might not otherwise have the chance. The 64 members of the program, most of them black or Hispanic, are set up with stores by Ford and then buy out Ford’s interest in the dealership with revenues. To give them a boost and, presumably, free up Ford money, Automotive News is reporting that Ford is offering dealers in the program an offer they’ll have a hard time refusing: complete ownership of their stores for $1.

To take advantage, though, the dealers will need to have private financing for their operating capital in place by September 30. If they can prove to Ford that they have enough private resources, they will take complete control of their stores and Ford will forgive any money the dealer still owes to The Blue Oval. Even though Ford would technically lose money on any dealer who accepted the offer, the automaker would no longer need to be involved in the dealership or in its floorplan financing.

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Dear Mr. Mullaly, 

I am sure you and your design staff heard the message from “Mr. EmptyisAwesome”.  If you have a response or if your marketing team has a response to Mr. Empty, please feel free to write to him at 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EmptyIsAwesome (pls. do not forget to CC-TransportGooru in your message)

For others, who are simply curious about Mr. EmptyisAwesome, please check out his work @:  http://www.youtube.com/user/EmptysAwesome 

TransportGooru is proud to play messenger for Mr. Empty and is doubly excited to carry this message to Mr. Mullaly.  

P.S: TransportGooru ran an article last week about Fiesta’s growing popularity in Europe.  Check it out here. 

(Source:  Jalopnik); Video: Emptysawesome@YouTube)

(Source: Ford, Autoblog)

Ford of Europe increased its market share in March in the Euro 19 markets to 10.0 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points versus the same month last year, consolidating its position as Europe’s number two best-selling brand.

This is the first time Ford of Europe’s market share has been in double digits since September 2001 and it continues the company’s upward trend.

In total in March Ford of Europe sold 163,000 vehicles in the Euro 19 markets and 
increased market share in 16 out of its 19 main European markets, with only France, Spain and Switzerland showing declines. 
“It is very encouraging to see Fiesta doing so well and also our market share developing so positively, given the declining market we are continuing to face in Europe,” said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

“With 56 per cent of our March sales generated by retail customers – up from 43 per cent in March 2008 – we have clear evidence of consumer confidence in our Ford product range,” he added.