In a bid to reduce person-to-person contact during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Ford Australia has announced a pick up and drop off service that customers can use should their vehicles need servicing or warranty repairs.

The ‘Ford Pick Up and Drop Off service’ will initially be available at participating dealerships until June 30, 2020 and incorporates three main elements. The first, and most obvious, is a pick up and drop off service when an owner needs a service or warranty repair. The second element of the program is disinfection of key touchpoints of the customer’s vehicle while the third element is the option of various cashless payment choices, such as mobile payments.

“The Ford Pick Up and Drop Off Service provides our service customers the reassurance they can get necessary vehicle work completed without leaving home, and the peace of mind that their vehicle is disinfected afterwards,” president and chief executive of Ford Australia and New Zealand Kay Hart said. “We’re pleased to be working with our dealers to find ways to ensure customers can continue to enjoy uninterrupted and safe services during this time.”

The disinfection service will be particularly important to protect the health of both customers and service staff, Ford says. Areas that will be wiped-down with an alcohol-based cleaner before the vehicle is returned include exterior and interior door handles, the steering wheel, center console, gear selector, hand brake handle, radio/HVAC areas, touchscreen, Start/Stop button, key fob, and more.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer extra convenience and peace of mind to customers during this difficult time,” chairman of the Ford Australia National Dealer Council John Cooper said. “These new services build on the strict hygiene and sanitation processes we’ve built in across the network.”