Coronavirus: Ford keeps specialist blue-light fleets moving

Ford Special Vehicle Projects (SVP) is providing essential support to the nation’s blue-light fleets as they battle the Coronavirus.

Established to meet the increasingly sophisticated and complex requirements of emergency fleets, Ford SVP works with 52 police forces (along with port and park police), 53 fire and rescue services, 14 NHS ambulance trusts (including blood service and general transportation) and the RNLI and Coastguard.

While physical operations at its Colchester site are currently closed, remote support continues to be offered to all emergency service customers.

Terry Adams, direct sales manager at Ford SVP, said: “Ford has a long history of working with emergency services spanning over 50 years, so it’s important that we continue our successful relationship more than ever at this time.

“We are still working, albeit as a support service, working remotely from home. As direct sales manager to blue-light customers, I am supported by engineers and the administration team at SVP. Our facility in Colchester carrying out vehicle conversions had to close temporarily. This was primarily to protect the workforce, but also the supply chain into SVP was becoming more and more constrained.”

However, general day-to-day support is continuing, including dealing with enquiries for quotations, vehicle orders and warranty issues.

“For completed vehicles, we have offered a collection service from SVP, with customers coming from Lancashire, Cheshire and South Wales to pick up vehicles needed to bolster strained fleets.

“As part of our Covid-19 support package, we have also offered to all our emergency service customers the use of our short-term demonstration fleet for extended periods. This has been well received by many of the NHS ambulance fleets who are stretched in moving staff around to call centres and ambulance stations,” added Adams.