• The Detroit News, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:16 AM

Lincoln dealers said Ford will invest $1 billion in new vehicles by 2014 to try to inject life into lagging Lincoln. The company's leadership, including CEO Alan Mulally, met dealers at its Dearborn headquarters recently to assure then they haven't been forgotten. Lincoln sold fewer than 35,000 vehicles in the United States through the first five months of the year, down 7.5% from a year ago and less than 1% of the U.S. auto market.

Ford has said Lincoln would get seven new or significantly upgraded vehicles over four years but dealers haven't seen them yet, while being asked to spend $1 million or more each to upgrade their dealerships. "The bigger question is whether Lincoln will be viable," said Rebecca Lindland, a director with IHS Automotive Inc. in Lexington, Mass.

Bob Tasca Jr., president of Tasca Automotive Group, which includes Ford and Lincoln showrooms in Cranston, R.I. is chairman of the Lincoln Mercury Dealer Council. He was at the meeting, saying it was "very positive." "They have a ways to go, but you gotta believe it," he said, referring to promises made and kept to turn around the Ford brand. Tasca expects Mulally and his management team to ramp up Lincoln as well. But he said also wishes the new vehicles would come already, saying the MKX and MKZ vehicles are selling well, but few buyers want the MKT or Navigator.

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