First Ford Dealers Certified To Sell Focus Electric With National Rollout To Follow

The first Ford dealers have been officially certified to sell the company's first all-electric car, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. The sixty-seven dealers are located in California, New York, and New Jersey; markets that account for a large percentage of electrified vehicle sales and will begin seeing the Focus Electric later this spring. By the end of the year, Focus Electric will be available nationwide.

Certification means the dealerships have met the automaker's guidelines for dealers selling electric vehicles, including installation of at least two onsite charging stations and participation in highly specialized training in the field of electric vehicles.

Dealers have been eager to start selling Focus Electric. First, however, they had to satisfy a list of other requirements to become certified, including:

One of the two required charging stations at the dealership must be in the customer area and the other must be in the service area
At least one Focus Electric must be available at all times for demonstrations and events
Of the sales consultant, sales manager, service advisor and service manager jobs at each location, eighty percent must meet specific electric vehicle training certification requirements that cover topics including advanced knowledge of electrification
Each showroom will have point-of-purchase display materials including digital assets and window signage
Participation in a Ford Go Green Dealer Onsite Facility Assessment to identify energy and cost saving opportunities with a goal of facilitating energy efficiency, lower operating expenses, and carbon footprint reduction

The Focus range soon will be joined by the new 2013 Fusion to help create what Ford hopes to be recognized as one of the industry's most fuel-efficient car lineups. The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is projected to become America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan by achieving more than 100 MPGe in electric mode.

Focus Electric has been certified by the EPA to offer 110 MPGe in the city and 105 MPGe combined, beating Nissan Leaf by six MPGe. The vehicle also offers a faster charging system. A unique value charging feature powered by Microsoft is designed to help owners charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates. Production of the vehicle began in December 2011 at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI.

After first being available in California, New York, and New Jersey, Focus Electric will be available in nineteen markets across the U.S. by summer's end, nationwide by the end of the year.

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