BRENTWOOD, Essex, UK, May 21, 2015 – Ford beat 10 rival manufacturers to retain a 250-car annual supply deal with Allianz, one of the UK’s largest motor and general insurers.
Allianz undertook a three-stage review and tender process for the contract which included an employee test-drive panel and the new Ford Focus and all-new Ford Mondeo emerged as the top choices.
The company, which has a single-brand fleet of 850 vehicles on an 80,000-mile/four-year life cycle, also evaluated safety, sustainability and whole-life costs in reaching its decision to stay with Ford.
The benchmark cars for the fleet will be the new Focus Estate 1.5 TDCi 120PS and the all-new Mondeo 1.6 TDCi 115PS models, with all cars equipped with satellite navigation, cruise control, parking sensors and Ford’s innovative Active City Stop.
Abigail Swartz, corporate procurement manager, Allianz Insurance, commented: “Safe driving and the reduction of risk is of the utmost importance to Allianz, so it was crucial that our fleet provider was able to meet our benchmark vehicle performance levels. We were very impressed with the range of benefits that Ford was able to offer us, particularly the collision avoidance technology and the fuel-efficient diesel power units.”
Ford account manager Emmet Wrafter added: “It’s great to continue our relationship with Allianz, particularly when they have undertaken such a comprehensive fleet ordering process. Allianz’s staff played an important role in the decision-making process and we are pleased that they recognised the class-leading attributes of the new Focus and the all-new Mondeo.”
About Ford of Europe
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and nine unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.co.uk
About Allianz
Allianz Insurance is one of the largest general insurers in the UK and part of the Allianz SE Group, the largest property and casualty insurer worldwide. Around 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz's knowledge, global reach, capital strength and solidity to help them make the most of financial opportunities and to avoid and safeguard themselves against risks. In 2014, over 147,000 employees in more than 70 countries achieved total revenues of approximately 122.3bn Euros.
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