Ford Retail Group Ltd.
FormerlyPolar Ford (1998–2004)
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1998 (1998)
FounderFord Motor Company
HeadquartersColchester, Essex, U.K.
Number of locations
Worldwide
Key people
  • Stuart Mustoe
  • (Chairman, CEO)
  • John Leeman
  • (Director of Dealer Operations)
ProductsNew and used cars
OwnerFord Motor Company
Number of employees
2958 (2007)[1]
ParentFord of Britain
Websitetrustford.co.uk

Ford Retail Group Ltd., currently operating as TrustFord,[2] 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.[3]

History

In October 1998, Jardine Motors Group announced a joint venture with the manufacturer for its Ford dealerships.[4] The merged firm was named Polar Ford.[5]

The following year, Polar Ford purchased Dagenham Motors.[6] In May 2002, Polar Ford purchased a further three dealerships in North London from Stripestar,[7] and Alperton Ford in February 2003,[8] 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.[9]

By 2014, Ford Retail Group was operating under a number of different names:[2]

  • 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

As a result, the company took the decision that year to rebrand all its activities under the single name of TrustFord.[10]

References

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