Ford Announces First Seven Qualified Vehicle Modifiers

August 4, 2017 by Ford

•Ford QVM scheme accredits converters modifying Ford vehicles

•Seven converters in the vanguard at launch of Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier programme

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 3 August 2017 – From refrigerated load carriers and tipper trucks to wheelchair-accessible people carriers, there is no shortage of ingenuity in converting Europe's top-selling range of commercial vehicles. Now quality assurance comes as standard too.

Ford's Qualified Vehicle Modifier programme – QVM – is a new scheme from the market leader to ensure the quality of converted vehicles on offer. The first seven QVM converters announced today are:

•Allied Vehicles

•CoTrim Conversions

•CPD Bodies

•GM Coachworks

•McElmeel Mobility Services

•Paneltex

•VFS

All Ford QVM converters have to meet the highest standards in manufacture and quality control, with each area being regularly assessed by Ford. They must also prove that their converted vehicles have followed Ford's Body and Equipment Mounting Manual (BEMM) and that they follow quality control processes.

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Additionally, QVM participants must offer a warranty for the conversion that matches Ford's own warranty in terms of mileage and duration and have adequate liability insurance.

'The introduction of more QVM converters will give buyers the peace of mind that the specialist they are buying from is accredited by Ford,' said Dave Petts, Ford Transit product manager.'The Transit range now offers customers an even wider choice of vehicles to meet their individual business needs.'

The UK's medium conversion market will grow by over 15 per cent in two years, from 42,000 vehicles in 2015 to 46,000 last year and topping 50,000 in 2017.

Ford's accredited QVM converters:

Allied Vehicles, based in Glasgow, offers wheelchair accessible conversions like the Ford Freedom, based on the Transit Connect, and the Ford Independence, based on the Tourneo Custom, which can accommodate driver, two wheelchair passengers and up to six additional passengers. Allied also builds the ProCab taxi, built on the Tourneo Custom chassis which can accommodate up to eight passengers in its six-seat rear compartment and the option of a front double seat.

www.alliedmobility.com

www.cabdirect.com

CoTrim Conversions, of Salisbury, Wiltshire, offers a range of Ford-based vehicles including crewvan conversions based on the Transit and Transit Custom, mobility conversions with lifts or ramps for easy wheelchair access, minibus and taxi conversions, and specialist adaptations to cater to the needs of a wide variety of niche users, such as environmental protection crews, film units and even bomb disposal experts.

www.cotrim.co.uk

CPD Bodies, in Stockton-on-Tees, specialise in all builds including Tippers, Dropsides, lightweight Lutons and bespoke commissions, especially for highway maintenance and management. CPD Bodies also have their own on site PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) facility and have made Ford their number one manufacturer to work with since CPD's incorporation in 2009.

www.cpdbodies.com

Paneltex, of Hull, specialises in thermally efficient Transits, offering a solution for buyers seeking anything from a simple refrigerated van to frozen or deep-freeze specifications. The company even offers a Ford Transit with a multi-temperature environment which accommodates both frozen and heated foods at the same time.

www.paneltex.co.uk

GM Coachwork, of Newton Abbot, Devon, creates wheelchair-accessible vehicles designed to offer the best in space, comfort and safety and featuring a lowered floor to optimise headroom. The Connect Flame offers seating for four and a wheelchair passenger and the Grand Connect Flame can accommodate five plus wheelchair.

www.gmcoachwork.co.uk

McElmeel Mobility Services, in Armagh, boasts a variety of Ford-based conversions aimed at the wheelchair passenger, ranging from the Grand Tourneo Connect to the long wheelbase Transit Custom, as well as special taxi conversions with rear or side access for wheelchairs and a bespoke conversion of the Transit Minibus with wheelchair tail-lift.

www.mobility-services.com

VFS, based at Eastleigh, Hampshire, was the very first UK converter accredited with the QVM award, but in addition to QVM, VFS is also a key provider of vehicles in Ford's One-Stop Shop commercial vehicle range. The company's new Transit Aluminium Tipper joins a range of bespoke Ford conversions which include one- and three-way tippers on both single and double cab platforms, including the recently launched Front-Wheel-Drive range plus Premium Dropsides from shortest to super long extended frame L5 model. Box and Luton vans are also available on a FWD platform.

www.vfs.co.uk

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 52,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 66,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.