Automotive News Daily Drive Nov. 8, 2025 | Weekend Drive: Ford’s Signature 2.0 program
Nov 8, 2025
Michael Martinez, an Automotive News reporter focused on Ford and the UAW, and Molly Boigon, a tech and innovation reporter, delve into the transformative impact of Ford’s Signature 2.0 showroom program, emphasizing its lifestyle-driven design. They discuss the customizable nature for dealers and share personal experiences from dealership visits. Additionally, they tackle the pause in F-150 Lightning production, raising questions about Ford's EV strategies. Molly also explores the Supreme Court's scrutiny of tariff authority, revealing its implications for trade and presidential power.
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Showrooms As Lifestyle Spaces
- Ford reframes showrooms as low-pressure lifestyle spaces to reduce buyer stress.
- The design showcases vehicle uses with themed displays rather than hard sales pitches.
Customize Layouts To Local Needs
- Dealers should tailor Signature 2.0 layouts to local needs, from tiny rural showrooms to large cold-climate spaces.
- Use existing buildings for modest refreshes to cut costs versus ground-up builds.
First Dealer Spent $12.5M
- Dave Wilson built a 44,000 sq. ft. Boulevard Ford for Signature 2.0 at a reported $12.5 million.
- Michael Martinez uses this example to illustrate wide cost variance across dealerships.