Ford is Expanding Customer Convenience with the 2023 Escape

Photo Source: Ford

Ford is now organizing itself to boost its competitive development. In the 2022 model year, the brand set its electric contributions apart from its combustion vehicle endeavors so that it could more vehemently challenge its rivals with suggestions like honest pricing and online ordering. That said, Ford Motor Company proclaimed Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, that it is expanding its dealership Mobile Service program by adding nearly 1,000 Ford Escape SUVs to its remote service fleet. The manufacturer plans to have the supplementary Mobile Service vehicles on the road by the end of the 2023 model year after announcing a 45 percent increase in mobile service requests since the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Mobile service bookings are surging across the industry as automakers attempt to better compete with Tesla, which, without a network of franchised dealerships, was a car industry pioneer in providing remote service selections. The Blue Oval, in particular, is trying to effectively challenge the electric vehicle powerhouse as it progresses toward its goal of constructing 2 million electric vehicles by 2026. 

Greater Opportunities

By augmenting its remote service fleet, Ford puts itself in a better position as future software-based automobiles reach the streets, allowing more opportunities to provide consumers with remote servicing, as well as over-the-air software upgrades to address any potential vehicle issues, including recalls. 

As a matter of fact, according to Todd Rabourn, North America Regional CX Director, Experience Implementation, “Adding the Escape to the mobile maintenance fleet now gives our smaller-volume dealers the ability to provide this convenient service to more customers. These Escape vehicles are hitting the road to provide everything from software updates to light repairs, plus offering the ability to accelerate how we resolve current recalls.”

How to Enroll in Ford’s Program

Readers deserve greater clarification about Ford’s methods. As such, for Ford dealers, participation in the Mobile Service program is voluntary. Once a dealer enrolls, they are allowed to utilize an in-stock 2022 or 2023 model year Ford Escape SUV for remote service. If a dealership does not have one available, they have the option of ordering one from Ford. 

Each Escape SUV will be outfitted with an inverter, harness, and a jumper cable charger. Not to mention, the dealer will provide numerous vehicle service tools. Of note, all automobiles in the program must have embedded Wi-Fi or other means of internet access. 

Freeing Up Service Availability

The amplification of the mobile service fleet will also free up more service bays at dealerships by performing maintenance and minor repairs at an owner’s home or at another reasonable location of their preference. Ford’s efforts appear to be coming to fruition, as some of Ford’s dealer partners claimed its Escape mobile service vehicle is helping to resolve up to ten recalls a day for customers, which, in turn, frees up its service departments to address Ford automobilistic repair and maintenance needs that require an indoor service bay. Indeed, the brand’s partners shared that providing mobile service has created a new culture within the dealership in how they approach customer experience.

Ford is taking every chance to branch out and innovate. If you would like to support their endeavor, look no further than the 2023 Ford Escape. Check out its availability at Sunrise Ford, where we have a dedicated sales team that will make every effort to meet your automobile shopping needs. The time you spend buying, leasing, or selling will be a piece of cake, courtesy of our brilliant team and our new vehicle inventory.