‘Servitization’ programme delivers more roadside cover, pre-paid scheduled services.

CHANGE has come to Ford NZ’s customer care arrangements, with the roadside assist extending from three years to five - but not retrospectively.

The new plan enables for new vehicles purchased from June 1. The changes form part of a broader strategy, it calls ‘Servitization’, where the goal is to integrate maintenance, warranty, and vehicle personalisation as a single experience.

An ingredient of this, running in tandem with the extended roadside cover, are pre-paid service plans, for now just for the latest facelifted (MY2026.5) Ranger and Everest.

Enabled on June 8, these give owners to lock in up to four scheduled services for $499 each. That’s a launch price of $499. The plans provide cost assurance for up to five years or 60,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

Ford NZ managing director Annaliese Atina proposes these moves as being reflective of a shift in how the company views its relationship with customers.

“We are a customer-obsessed brand, which means we think far beyond the initial sale; our focus is on the entire journey our customers take with us,” she said in prepared comment shared to media.

“We want to take the stress and unpredictability out of ownership so customers can focus on what matters most – whether that’s running a business, getting the kids safely to school, or heading off for a weekend getaway.”

Ford NZ recently announced a programme advocating use of Genuine Ford Accessories (GFA) and Ford Licensed Accessories (FLA).

GFA products are Ford-branded parts designed and manufactured by Ford. FLA products are third-party items officially vetted by the brand for safety and compatibility.

When fitted to a new vehicle by an authorised dealer prior to delivery, both GFA and FLA products are covered by a five-year/150,000km warranty on the Ranger and Transit, or a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on passenger vehicles.