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Ford Improves Parts Availability, Demonstrates Commitment to Middle East with New Parts Distribution Centre

Ford is investing $53 million in a new Middle East Parts Distribution Centre (PDC), the company's largest single investment in the region to date and its most significant service initiative ever in the Middle East

The new PDC will significantly reduce the time customers will have to wait for parts to arrive at their service locations, as approximately 92 percent of the parts needed will be immediately available in the region for vehicle service or repairs. Order to delivery time for dealers will improve substantially, with parts now arriving in as few as 2 days

Ford's PDC has the capacity to stock up to 50,000 individual parts, or 6 million total pieces, with an estimated $43 million total inventory value

DUBAI, U.A.E.: Ford Motor Company is demonstrating its strong commitment to Middle East customers with a $53 million investment in an all-new Middle East Parts Distribution Centre (PDC).

Located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone of Dubai, the new distribution centre will improve parts availability and significantly reduce the time dealers and customers will need to wait for parts to complete vehicle service repairs.

The new PDC is Ford's largest single investment in the region to date, notes Frederiek Toney, vice president, Global Ford Customer Service Division, Ford Motor Company.

"The Middle East Parts Distribution Centre represents our most expansive customer service initiative ever in this region, and demonstrates Ford's commitment to providing Middle East customers with exceptional customer service and an improved ownership experience."

Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Jafza Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, Economic Zones World, the parent company of Jafza , on the occasion said: "Ford's continued use of Jafza as its regional headquarters and distribution hub reflects a committed partnership and confidence in the free zone and in Dubai. We commend the company on its ambitious endeavour and we are confident that the company's stellar customer service will be further enhanced by the newly developed facility."

Improving parts availability

The 29,500 square-meter facility has the capacity to stock up to 50,000 individual parts, or 6 million total pieces, with an estimated $43 million total inventory value.

Ford's new PDC will significantly reduce the time customers will have to wait for parts to arrive at their service locations, as approximately 92 percent of the parts needed will be immediately available in the region for vehicle service or repairs. With the new PDC, parts will now be delivered to dealers in as few as 2 days. With parts more readily available, the PDC will improve the lead time for special-order parts as well, reducing vehicle downtime for customers.

Parts from the new facility will be shipped to 11 countries throughout the Middle East with service expanding to countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in 2012.

The new Middle East PDC is one of Ford's nearly 60 global distribution centres and its first in the Middle East region.

Ford's distribution centre in Dubai, currently employing 50 people will be operated by Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive and the distribution to the dealers will be done by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, one of the world's leading logistics providers. Hellman has more than ten years of experience working in the Middle East and offers extensive expertise in automotive parts distribution.

"We're pleased to see this project come to fruition," said Jost Hellmann, managing owner of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. "Like Ford, Hellmann is focused on quality and dedicated to supporting dealers and their customers, and we anticipate an enduring partnership."

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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 166,000 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.

Ford's history in the Middle East goes back to over 60 years. The company's local importer-dealers operate more than 100 facilities in the region and directly employ more than 7,000 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals. For more information on Ford Middle East, please visit www.me.ford.com.

Ford Middle East is also a responsible corporate citizen in the region, with the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, a grass-root level program that has offered US$1.2 million in grants to over 140 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000. For more information on the Ford Grants, please write to fmegrant@ford.com.

The Parts Distribution Centre is a local brand of Ford International Services, LLC. Ford International Services is a direct subsidiary of Ford Motor Company whose primary purpose is to operate the Middle East Parts Distribution Centre.

© Press Release 2011