FLEETS are set to save money servicing Ford vehicles following the manufacturer's decision to revise schedules. The move sees Ford scrap its normal and high mileage services in favour of a single standard service, although intervals remain unchanged at 10,000 miles.

Ford claims the revision will see cars and commercials (except Explorer) receive more work at a parallel or reduced cost. Ford Fleet National Pricing shows that for a basket of core fleet vehicles the cost of three new single standard services at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 miles should be equal or lower than the cost of the previous service regime, which required two smaller services at 10,000 and 20,000 miles and a major service at 30,000 miles.

The new strategy is the latest in a series of key developments in the service and maintenance market which has seen Peugeot extend its service intervals to 20,000 miles for petrol and 10,000 miles for diesel, and Citroen increase intervals to 12,500 for petrol and 10,000 for diesel. Ford's new standard service includes enhancements such as handbrake adjustment, battery fluid checks and coolant protection - and every 30,000 miles the service will feature a full wheels-off brake check.