Ford chief executive Jim Farley has said that future dealer standards will be “brutal” to ensure that the brand has the physical network to outperform its car manufacturing competitors.

Addressing delegates at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions conference in New York, the Blue Oval boss suggested that the OEM had to be ready to do battle with emerging EV producers and restructure its spending towards consumer experience.

Central to that will be a shift to a “non-negotiated price”, he said, adding: “We've got to go to 100% online. There's no inventory (at dealerships), it goes directly to the customer. And 100% remote pickup and delivery.”

Farley added: "Then we have this opportunity to use our physical presence to outperform competitors.

"I think our dealers can do it. But the standards are going to be brutal. They're going to be very different than they are today."