Ford expands commercial credit access with CPO program, GM adds fleet tools

General Motors and Ford Motor are expanding their commercial fleet ecosystems with an additional financing program and used vehicle and fleet management offerings as businesses contend with elevated costs. 

U.S. fleet sales are projected to total 3 million vehicles in 2026, according to a Sept. 24 forecast from Cox Automotive, which raised its full-year fleet and retail sales outlooks amid stronger-than-expected vehicle demand.  

Ford Pro launched its Ford Pro Advantage certified pre-owned commercial vehicle program nationwide Oct. 5, offering commercial financing, maintenance and connected-vehicle services for Class 1-7 trucks and vans, according to a Sept. 29 company announcement. 

The program focuses on high-demand, 2- to 3-year-old commercial vehicles with 30,000 to 70,000 miles sourced through Ford Pro Commercial Vehicle Center dealers and rental fleet partners. 

Ford will offer two CPO levels, according to the automaker.

Improving commercial vehicle access

Ford expects certification to improve asset predictability for lenders and support more flexible credit structures and longer loan terms, Wendy Lane, Ford Blue Advantage used-vehicle strategy manager for the United States, told Auto Finance News. The company also expects factory warranty protection and roadside assistance to help preserve vehicle values. 

Ford Pro Gold Certified covers eligible Ford commercial vehicles through the F-750 and includes a 172-point inspection, while Blue Certified covers Ford and non-Ford vehicles up to 9 years old and 150,000 miles following a 139-point inspection. 

Ford Pro Advantage customers across both certification tiers, including buyers of qualifying non-Ford vehicles, can access commercial installment loans and commercial lines of credit through Ford Pro FinSimple, Lane said. Customers can also consolidate vehicle payments, extended service plans, mobile service and connected-software trials into a single monthly invoice. 

FinSimple uses commercial underwriting tailored to business asset life cycles rather than relying primarily on consumer credit metrics, Lane said. Lane said the approach can provide financing options for newer businesses and tradespeople with developing commercial credit histories. 

‘Essential economy’ 

Ford is positioning its commercial offerings around the “essential economy,” which supports 95 million U.S. workers, Chief Executive Jim Farley said during the automaker’s Sept. 30 Ford Pro Accelerate event. 

Industrywide used commercial vehicle sales increased 10% quarter over quarter but declined 8.3% year over year in the second quarter, according to an Aug. 4 analysis from Work Truck Solutions.  

The average used commercial vehicle price fell 3.1% QoQ to $37,494 but remained 8.8% higher YoY. The median mileage rose 24.5% YoY to 77,507 miles. 

GM adds AI-powered fleet management platform 

General Motors, meanwhile, launched its OnStar Fleet Intelligence platform for select fleet customers, combining vehicle data, fleet management and artificial intelligence tools in a single system, according to a Sept. 30 company release. 

The platform allows operators to track vehicle orders, manage connected services and monitor fuel efficiency, range, diagnostics, geofencing and vehicle protection.  

The OEM also embedded an OnStar Fleet AI Assistant into the platform, allowing operators to query fleet data using natural language.  

The AI assistant is designed to simplify fleet management by consolidating vehicle data and operating-cost information into one dashboard, Ian Hucker, global vice president of GM Fleet, said in the release. 

GM plans to expand the rollout of OnStar Fleet Intelligence in phases. 

This story first appeared on Auto Finance News, a publication of Royal Media.

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