• Detroit Free Press, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 10:31 AM

Ford wants to reduce its Lincoln dealer network by about a third and improve the perception of the brand in the top 130 major metropolitan markets, where 90% of its cars are sold, by this time next year, Brent Snavely reports. There are currently about 500 dealerships in those areas.

"Very simply, there are too many dealers, and many of them are not even located properly," says Bob Tasca, Jr., a dealer in Rhode Island who is the chairman of Lincoln-Mercury Dealers. "We are fully committed to transforming Lincoln into a world class luxury brand with compelling vehicles and also a consumer experience to match," says Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas.

There are also nearly 700 dealers in small towns and rural areas who are being asked to consider if they want to continue to sell the brand. Fields says the dealers need to be more competitive. Lincoln's 1,187 dealers sold about 5.8 vehicles a month last year, while Lexus' 226 dealers sold about 80.

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