DUNTON, Essex, 22 May, 2020 – With more than 130 emergency service contracts across the UK, Ford Special Vehicle Projects (SVP) in Essex is providing essential support to the nation’s blue light fleets as they battle the coronavirus.
Established to meet the increasingly sophisticated and complex requirements of emergency fleets, Ford SVP works with 52 police forces (along with port and park police), 53 fire and rescue services, 14 NHS ambulance trusts (including blood service and general transportation) and the RNLI and Coastguard.
While physical operations at its Colchester site are currently closed, remote support continues to be offered to all emergency service customers.
Terry Adams, direct sales manager at Ford SVP, said: “Ford has a long history of working with emergency services spanning over 50 years, so it’s important that we continue our successful relationship more than ever at this time.
“We are still working, albeit as a support service, working remotely from home. As direct sales manager to blue light customers, I am supported by engineers and the administration team at SVP. Our facility in Colchester carrying out vehicle conversions had to close temporarily. This was primarily to protect the workforce, but also the supply chain into SVP was becoming more and more constrained.”
However, general day-to-day support is continuing, including dealing with enquiries for quotations, vehicle orders and warranty issues.
Terry added: “For completed vehicles, we have offered a collection service from SVP, with customers coming from Lancashire, Cheshire and South Wales to pick up vehicles needed to bolster strained fleets.
“As part of our Covid-19 support package, we have also offered to all our emergency service customers the use of our short-term demonstration fleet for extended periods. This has been well received by many of the NHS ambulance fleets who are stretched in moving staff around to call centres and ambulance stations.”
There are currently more than 5,000 Ford cars and commercial vehicles in active service on emergency service fleets across the UK helping the national effort.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 45,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 59,000 people when unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 19 manufacturing facilities (12 wholly owned facilities and seven 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.
