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Lincoln might almost be out of the weeds with its bungled attempt to launch the MKZ.
Concerns over quality caused a back log of products at the company’s Hermosillo, Mexico plant that quickly became overwhelming. The MKZ is the first car in a product line meant to revive the brand and was supposed to be at dealers last October. Now cars are slowly starting to arrive at exasperated dealers hoping to retain customers.
The failure didn’t stop Lincoln’s costly ad campaign that included an ad during the Grammys and a 7.4-million-dollar Super Bowl campaign.
Dealers were left empty-handed and unable to answer customer questions as Lincoln tried to fix its problems by sending the overflow from Mexico to its Flat Rock, Mich. plant for quality inspections and approval before being sent to dealers. Since late December, Automotive News reports the brand shipping 6,000 MKZs from Mexico to Michigan.
Meanwhile, buyers grew understandably impatient and many have started looking elsewhere for their new cars.
Now, Lincoln is left hoping to save crucial sales through a new advertising campaign meant to draw customers back to the company. While some might applaud Ford for holding off on launching the car to assure quality, that delay will be even more bitter if the car still proves to have problems.
Please visit our Lincoln MKZ Forum for discussions on the Lincoln MKZ.
[Source: Automotive News]
