Ford Motor Company Opens 600th Quick Lane Store; Expanding Fastest-Growing Auto Service Network

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Centers continue their strong growth momentum with opening of 600th U.S. store in California  

• Ford announces voluntary facility refresh program for Quick Lane operators to enhance customer sales and service experience  

• Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Centers offer no-appointment, while-you-wait service for all makes and models

• Quick Lane remains the fastest-growing network of auto service retailers in the country

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) reached a significant milestone this week for its Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center business with the Grand Opening of its 600th U.S. store at Elk Grove Ford in Elk Grove, Calif.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110203/DE41856 )

"I'm excited about the sales and service opportunities of our new Quick Lane facility," said Matt Wood, dealer principal at Elk Grove Ford. "As customers keep their vehicles longer, routine maintenance becomes even more critical to ensuring the long-term durability and quality of the vehicle. Our factory-trained technicians are looking forward to servicing these customers at our new Quick Lane store."    

Quick Lane offers routine vehicle maintenance such as oil and filter changes, as well as light repair services including brake repairs and tire replacements on all vehicle makes and models.  Quick Lane is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

In addition to its continued expansion, Ford also is launching a voluntary brand freshening initiative to assist Quick Lane operators update the interior and exterior of their facilities to maximize the sales and service experience for customers.

"We are very pleased with our strong growth of Quick Lane and want to continue our momentum by delivering branding elements that will help keep our Quick Lane facilities looking fresh and inviting to consumers," said Frederiek Toney, president of Ford's customer service division globally.  

Ford's Quick Lane vehicle maintenance business remains the fastest-growing service brand in the industry. Quick Lane operators sold a record 1 million tires in 2010 and posted record sales of more than $570 million for the year.

Quick Lane offers tires from 11 leading brands including Goodyear, Michelin and Continental, among others, and offers the guaranteed best price on all tires sold.

Servicing all vehicle makes and models

Quick Lane operators around the country also continue to experience an increase in routine maintenance services from vehicles other than Ford, Lincoln or Mercury products. Sales to competitive make vehicles closed out 2010 up 25 percent nationally as consumers continue to migrate to Quick Lane shops for fast and convenient services – all performed by factory-trained technicians.

Convenience with confidence

To deliver additional convenience, customers can visit www.quicklane.com to find a center that is closest to them, print savings coupons and review maintenance tips to keep their vehicle running at peak efficiency. This site also includes information on how to spot tire wear, how to jump start a battery and even the importance of replacing a faulty oxygen sensor that could improve fast mileage by as much as 40 percent.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company