Ford Motor Company and FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealers, today announced the launch of iPad-optimized versions of the Ford and Lincoln Build and Price online customer shopping tool, specifically designed for the iPad and iPad 2 as well as the iPhone and Android smart phones.
The newly optimized versions of this tool provide iPad and smart phone users with immediate access to the Build and Price feature of the Ford and Lincoln sites, allowing them to virtually build a car from top to bottom, receive a price estimate and find a local dealership that can facilitate the purchase. Since its launch, the iPad Build and Price and smart phone experience has generated nearly 750 leads per week for Ford Motor Company dealers.
DEARBORN, Mich. June 1, 2011 – Ford Motor Company and FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealers, today launched iPad-optimized versions of the Ford and Lincoln Build and Price online customer shopping tool, specifically designed for the iPad and iPad 2 as well as the iPhone and Android smart phones. This functionality is available on Ford.com, Lincoln.com and on the FordDirect dealer websites, DealerConnection and DealerConnection Premier Customization Service.
Increasing numbers of auto shoppers are conducting online research before buying a vehicle, and a growing proportion of them are using mobile phones and other wireless devices to price and compare products as they shop. Now iPad and smart phone users can access the Build and Price feature of the Ford and Lincoln sites, allowing them to virtually build a car from top to bottom, receive a price estimate and find a local dealership that can facilitate the purchase.
When a consumer accesses the Ford.com or Lincoln.com site on an iPad or iPad2, the iPad will automatically launch the iPad-optimized version of the Build and Price pages. The Build and Price feature can be accessed directly on an iPad at t.bp3.ford.com and t.bp3.lincoln.com.
“Our new iPad and smart phone optimized Build and Price features provide consumers with more opportunities to learn about the Ford and Lincoln vehicles they are interested in, whatever their location,” said Stacey Coopes, chief executive officer of FordDirect. “In turn, Ford and Lincoln dealers gain more opportunities to reach consumers and access leads from interested shoppers for Ford and Lincoln dealers.”
Since its launch, the iPad Build and Price and smart phone experience has generated nearly 750 leads per week for Ford Motor Company dealers.
About FordDirect
FordDirect (forddirect.com/dealercenter) is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchised dealers to create a comprehensive Web presence for dealers and provide digital marketing services that help dealers sell more cars and trucks. Ford dealers sold more than 275,000 new vehicles from FordDirect Internet referrals in 2010. FordDirect provides dealers new and pre-owned marketing services, call tracking, lead management solutions, dealer Websites, search optimization and marketing, database marketing, marketing services for regional dealer advertising groups and other marketing services. FordDirect is headquartered in Dearborn, Mich.
iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.
