Jeddah , Saudi Arabia, 10 March, 2013

Owners of Ford and Lincoln vehicles get a pat in the back for choosing to buy Ford Mustang, Ford Mustang GT, Ford Explorer, Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKT as the five models were recently recognised in the 2013 Kelley Blue Book "5-Year Cost to Own Awards". 

The award from KBB.com intends to highlight total spend on vehicles or cost to own a vehicle in the US, way beyond the purchase price.  It factors in financing, insurance, fuel consumption, maintenance, depreciation and other extra expenses that most owners do not include in their calculations when buying a vehicle.

"It's great to see more and more industry experts recognising Ford and Lincoln products, and the KBB.com award is yet another great testament," said Larry Prein, Ford Middle East's managing director. "Cost of ownership is really two-pronged:  first to consider is the depreciation and the second, of course, is what you spend with the use of your car such as fuel, maintenance, and, repair costs.  At Ford, we already address the factors that influence depreciation within our Ford pillars of Quality, Green, Safe and Smart.

"As we excel in these pillars or be better than our competition, we improve the long-term value of our vehicles.  Take for instance our new powertrains, with EcoBoost and other improvements in our engines, the gains in fuel consumption are dramatic and the customer is getting excellent performance," he added.

Maintenance cost, another driver of total ownership cost, is significantly lower with Ford vehicles according to Chris Noel, Ford Middle East's regional director for Customer Service. "Over the past years oil change cycle has been increased from 5,000km to 8,000km which translates to lowering maintenance cost at least half of what was normally spent.

"Additionally, Ford dealers in the region are adding free service and maintenance packages starting with 3 year/60,000km, and offering plans of up to 5 years/200,000km, tailored to meet owner needs. This significantly adds to the customers' peace of mind when coupled with the

5 year/100,000km powertrain warranty, 24 hour free roadside assistance as well as the manufacturer warranty," Noel explained.

In Saudi Arabia, Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co, the local Ford and Lincoln importer-dealer, currently offers an additional warranty coverage of 5 years/200,000km (over and above the Ford manufacturer's warranty of 3 years/60,000km) together with a 5 year/100,000km 24-hour free roadside assistance. This, in addition to a 5 year/100,000km powertrain warranty and a 3 year/60,000km free service and maintenance package on select vehicles, giving Ford owners complete peace of mind.

Lincoln products in the Kingdom are offered with Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co's

5 year/200,000km warranty (over and above the Lincoln manufacturer's warranty of

4 years/80,000km), along with a 6 year/110,000km powertrain warranty, as well as

6 year/120,000km 24-hour free roadside assistance.

KBB.com presents the "5-Year Cost to Own Awards" annually to honor individual winners in 22 different market segments, plus two overall brand winners. It uses comprehensive valuation criteria to determine the most deserving cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans which includes Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, projected depreciation, financing costs, insurance costs and state fees as well as the anticipated total cost of fuel, scheduled maintenance and repairs.

-Ends- 

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 171,000 employees and 65 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 and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

Ford's history in the Middle East goes back more than 60 years. The company's local importer-dealers operate more than100 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$1.3million in grants to more than 150 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000.

Contacts:
Malek Abderahman
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: 026067202           
malek.abdelrahman@bm.com

© Press Release 2013