TrustFord

Ford Retail Group, currently operating as TrustFord,[4] is an operator of franchised motorcar dealerships in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands that is now owned by Ford of Europe. In addition to selling both new and used Ford and Iveco cars and commercial vehicles, Ford Retail Group dealerships also operate their full garage workshop, repair and service centre.[5]

Ford Retail Group
IndustryMotor industry
FoundedOctober 1998
HeadquartersColchester, Essex, United Kingdom
Key people
Stuart Foulds
(Chief Executive & Chairman)
John Leeman
(Director of Dealer Operations)
ProductsMotor vehicles
RevenueUK £827 million (2006)[1]
UK £3 million (2006)[2]
OwnerFord Motor Company
Number of employees
2958 (2007)[3]
ParentFord of Britain
(1998–present)
Websitewww.fordretail.com

History

Jardine Motors Group first announced in October 1998 their joint venture with the manufacturer for its Ford dealerships,[6] the merged firm was then known as Polar Ford.[7] Polar Ford had purchased Dagenham Motors by January 1999 shortly afterwards.[8]

Polar Ford purchased three dealerships in North London from Stripestar in May 2002,[9] and Alperton Ford in February 2003,[10] before Jardine sold their 51% stake in the joint venture to Ford in March 2004, at which point the company became known as Ford Retail Group then after.[11]

Ford Retail Group operated by February 2014 under quite an interesting variety of names;[4]

  • Dagenham Ford – primarily located in London and the surrounding counties
  • Polar Ford – primarily located in Yorkshire and North West England
  • Brunel Ford – located in South West England
  • Heartlands Ford – Birmingham and surrounding area
  • Lindsay Ford – Northern Ireland
  • Bougourd Ford – Guernsey
  • La Motte Ford – Jersey
  • Ford Online
  • Ford Online Parts

The company stated their intention in February 2014 to rebrand all their activities as TrustFord geographically around the country.[12]

References
  1. "Motor Trader". Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  2. "Ford retail: From £5m loss to £3m profit – in 12 months". www.am-online.com. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  3. "Ford Retail: The Boardroom Magazine". themanufacturer.com. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  4. Bennett, Jeremy (14 February 2014). "Ford Retail to rebrand network as TrustFord". AM Online. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. "Ford Retail: The Boardroom Magazine". themanufacturer.com. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. Barkas, Eric (1998) Ford Poised to Become a Retailer with Jardine-Polar Joint Firm. Yorkshire Post, 1 October 1998, p.14
  7. "Lancaster and Polar Ford cause headaches for Jardine". www.motortrader.com. 21 August 2000. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  8. "Dagenham Accepts Polar Bid". www.motortrader.com. 25 January 1999. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  9. "London Ford dealers join Polar expansion". www.motortrader.com. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  10. "Polar Buys Alperton Ford in North West London". www.motortrader.com. February 2003. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  11. "Ford acquires Polar Motor Group". www.motortrader.com. March 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  12. "Ford Retail to rebrand network as TrustFord". www.motortrader.com. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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