Ford will pay $200 if you buy another brand

In a world first, Ford Australia is offering customers $200 if they buy a rival's car.
 
In what is believed to be a world first, Ford Australia is offering $200 to anyone who buys a rival car after taking one of its own for a test drive.
 
The deal applies to all models in the Ford range -- and any brand-new competitor car from another brand -- until the end of October.
 
Ford Australia does not yet have any details on how many customers have cashed-in on the offer because the promotion has only been running for a few days.
 
The first advertisement shows a Toyota HiLux, Australia's top-selling heavy-duty ute for more than 30 years, before a spokeswoman offers viewers $200 if they buy a Toyota HiLux after taking a Ford Ranger for a test drive.
 
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A new advertisement due next week, showing a Ford Focus, will set a similar challenge against small cars such as the top-selling Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.
 
It means that anyone who is determined to buy a rival brand can still collect a $200 prepaid Visa card from Ford, providing they take a test drive in a Ford and fill in the required form.
 
"The redemption process is online and designed to be as easy as possible so customers do not have to go back to Ford dealerships if they buy a competitive model," said Mr Sherwood. But anyone who buys the Ford instead will get $500 off their new car.
 
Ford Australia spokesman Wes Sherwood told News Corp Australia: "We do not believe we have done this -- give customers money after Ford test drives if they buy a competitor's vehicle -- before anywhere else in the world".
 
Ford says the offer will extend to all models in the Ford range and any brand-new rival vehicle.
 
"Our dealers will register the customers when they test drive our vehicles and send them a verification e-mail with details on how to claim their payment if they buy a (brand-new) competitive model, which they will have to verify with purchase and registration documents," said Mr Sherwood.
 
Ford says it developed the controversial campaign because "our vehicles have advanced considerably but … perceptions are lagging".
 
The campaign coincides with Ford Australia's plan to turn its showrooms into Apple stores, appointing concierges at each dealership and distributing more than 1000 iPads to dealers nationally so that customers can compare in detail cars from all brands before choosing which model to buy.
 
Ford Australia was one of only three brands in the Top 10 to post strong sales gains last month, driven largely by the success of the locally designed and developed (albeit Thailand-made) Ranger ute.
 
The Ford Ranger has dented the dominance of the top-selling Toyota HiLux. Sales of the HiLux are down by 5.2 per cent in the first eight months this year, while Ranger deliveries have risen by 26 per cent over the same period, closing the gap in second place.