Ford plans to reduce the number of dealers in Europe to reduce costs and boost the profitability of the brand. Sales points will also disappear in the Netherlands.
That explains Stuart Rowley, the CEO of the brand in Europe, to Automotive News Europe. Rowley declined to say the number of Ford dealers on Thursday, except for an “appropriate number per market”.
According to insiders, the UK is the hardest hit. It is said that 180 of the approximately 400 branches are closed. Rowley sees the business model shift to online sales. The rollout within Ford will begin later this year.
According to Ford Netherlands, this is a normal development. “We have already reduced the number of dealers from about two hundred to one hundred a few years ago. With other brands, too, you see a movement towards fewer points of sale. This will not be any different in the coming years.”