Ford is launching 100 'Transit Centres' across the UK which aim to offer improved aftersales service standards, extended opening hours and ‘high-tech’ showrooms.

Hartwell Ford in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, was the first Transit Centre to launch in the UK.

Each of the new centres will feature the Transit24 aftersales programme, announced in February this year, which is aimed at minimising vehicle downtime and reducing whole life costs for commercial vehicle operators.

In the UK, over 85% of new Ford commercial vehicle (CV) sales are to fleets, so the improvements are aimed at maintaining the brand’s strength in the van sector.

The 100 Ford sites will be upgraded by the end of 2014 as part of the company’s on-going investment into its dealer network.

Each Transit Centre site will employ a dedicated CV sales team as well as Ford-trained technicians and offers specialised workshop equipment, tools and training, and can manage all service, maintenance and warranty work.

The Transit24 programme offers customers while-you-wait servicing, including regular late night appointments, and will respond within 20min to online service booking requests made through Epyx 1Link.

Collection and delivery of vehicles can also be arranged and every vehicle leaves the dealership washed and ready for work.

The launch of Ford’s Transit Centre network is aligned with the brand’s product launch  introducing four new models – Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom and Transit – by 2014.