Mulally drops by dealership, sells some cars

Amy Wilson  |  Automotive News / March 27, 2007 - 5:22 pm

DETROIT -- Four cars (almost) in 40 minutes. That's the Alan Mulally
sales tally at Village Ford in Dearborn, Mich., where the Ford Motor
Co. CEO dropped by last week.

In what could be considered a trial run for a planned stint working at
a dealership, Mulally dropped by Village Ford on Monday, March 19. He
got right on the showroom floor, asking customers what kind of vehicle
would suit their family size.

"I'd say 'Hi, I'm Alan. I'm from Ford. I'm just helping out here
today,'" Mulally recalled in an interview with Automotive News. "I got
so close to one family."

That would be Nancy Miner from Liverpool, N.Y., who ended up buying a
Fusion. After a bad dealership service experience in New York, she
decided to search for a new vehicle in Michigan while visiting her
son, Kevin Miner. He used to work at Ford's Woodhaven, Mich., forging
plant and now works at the Severstal North America steel plant at
Ford's Rouge complex in Dearborn.

"She was down pretty much to a Camry and the Fusion. So I told her all
about the Camry because I've had every Camry, I've had Lexus cars, I
know all about Japan," Mulally said. "I told her about the (Fusion),
asked what her needs were. The Fusion was really for her."

Miner bought the Fusion and drove it home to New York. Village Ford
dealer principal Jim Seavitt also credited Mulally with the sale of
another Fusion and a Ford Escape. A third Fusion sale is pending, if
the customer can get his trade-in deal worked out, Seavitt said.

Mulally wrapped up his sales session by having lunch with Seavitt and
Irma Elder, another Detroit-area Ford dealer, at Miller's, a popular
burger joint in Dearborn.

Said Seavitt: "He really engages people. I tell you, he's not your
father's CEO. I like his energy and enthusiasm."

Mulally will get another chance to log some Ford sales when he follows
through on a pledge to work an entire day or two at a dealership.
Mulally told dealers during February's NADA convention that he would
take a turn in their shoes.