At a time when vehicle sales have dropped off sharply because of tight credit, consumer unease and all of the news around the auto industry, sales of Ford cars and trucks have actually increased in South Louisiana. Steve Kozak, the chief engineer for Ford Safety Systems, says the sale of the company’s cars and trucks is about 10% higher in the greater Louisiana region (which includes Baton Rouge, New Orleans and much of the rest of South Louisiana) than what it was during the first half of 2008.
Kozak was in Baton Rouge today as part of a 100-city tour to promote Ford and the new 2010 Taurus. He credits the sales increases locally and nationally on the company’s strategy to promote the quality, value and safety of Ford vehicles. “This is part of a plan we put in place five years ago,” he says. “And for an American car company to have a plan is refreshing.” Kozak says Ford plans to send executives to make regular trips to dealers in the future, part of a way to get the company’s vehicles out before local leaders. “Our best messengers are our own employees,” he says.—Timothy Boone
