Ford says 900 dealers will be EV-certified by spring

[darrelld]

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20130205/RETAIL07/130209944#ixzz2K44SkEX0
 

DETROIT -- More than 900 dealers, about a third of the Ford-brand dealer body, will be certified to sell Ford-brand plug-in vehicles by spring, the company said today.

That number of EV Certified Dealers has grown from about 200 dealers in November and is ahead of where the company projected it to be. EV Certified Dealers have to meet special certification requirements in order to be allowed to sell Ford-brand plug-in vehicles. Ford currently offers two: the Ford Focus Electric and C-Max Energi. A third plug-in, the Fusion Energi, goes on sale later this winter.

Ford attributed the spike to increased demand for the electrified vehicles.

“Research indicates that 60 percent of new-vehicle shoppers are considering hybrid vehicles. With this demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, early sales of Ford’s five electrified vehicles has been phenomenal, creating a tremendous amount of excitement among our dealers,” C.J. O’Donnell, Ford electrified vehicle marketing manager, said in a statement.

To be certified, Ford dealers must install at least two on-site charging stations, including one in the customer parking area and another in the service department. Dealers must also keep at least one Focus Electric and C-Max Energi on hand for demonstrations. And 80 percent of sales consultants, sales managers, service managers and service advisers are required to take specialized training in vehicle electrification.

 

[Adair]

My salesman told me yesterday that he was completing a 40-question test to be certified to sell the C-Max.