The green advantages of fleets and changes in Ford purchasing
Automotive News Enterprise Editor Dave Guilford’s story reveals that fleet managers are prime customers for green vehicles. Many fleets have a built-in advantage over individual users. Their vehicles roll out from a central depot in the morning and rack up predictable mileage. Then they roll back into the depot, where they can be refueled or recharged overnight.
That means fleet buyers, unlike individual consumers, don’t have to wait to see when — or whether — a fueling infrastructure appears. Also, fleet managers are under pressure to cut their carbon footprint and fuel costs.
Fleets offer a sharp contrast to the retail market, where automakers selling green vehicles must overcome serious obstacles, such as enormous fueling infrastructure needs and ingrained consumer habits.
In a second story, Automotive News Contributor David Sedgwick reports that Tony Brown, Ford Motor Co.’s purchasing chief, is splitting duties of his top two lieutenants so as to provide “a single point of contact” for suppliers.
Birgit Behrendt has been appointed executive director of Ford’s global programs and Americas purchasing. Burt Jordan has been named executive director of global vehicle and powertrain purchasing. Both report directly to Brown; their assignments took effect July 1.
Brown, 54, said the reorganization will simplify his purchasing operation, which should be a plus for suppliers. “It will be easier for suppliers to communicate with us because it will be clearer who is responsible for what,” Brown told Automotive News. Suppliers, he said, “will have a single point of contact.”
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