What does a full service vehicle processing and modification facility
have in common with the LPGA?

Without AutoPort, participants in the LPGA McDonald Golf Tournament, held at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, might not make it to the tee on time.

The first week of June sees the arrival of over 100,000 spectators to the LPGA tournament supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Meanwhile, AutoPort, a Wilmington based corporation established in 1981, is quietly providing a service that is essential to this annual event. At the request of the Ford Motor Company, AutoPort is detailing and preparing this year’s 110 vehicle fleet of Lincoln Towncars, Mercury Marquis’, Ford Windstars and Explorers donated by Ford that will be used by Fortune 500 CEOs, LPGA players, sponsors and celebrities.

Bob Studzinski, Ford’s National Accounts Manager – North American Fleet Lease and Remarketing Operations, has relied on AutoPort for years to provide top-notch fleet processing for this event.

Studzinski says, "AutoPort is my first choice for preparing and processing the vehicles. Working with AutoPort is a turnkey operation. I know the job will get done. There is never any worry or hassle. I deliver the vehicles and AutoPort takes over to ensure that they are serviced and in top condition and delivered in time for the first arrival. After the event, they return the vehicles in top shape ready for delivery to area rental car companies. I couldn’t
ask for a better relationship."

One of those “fantastic people” is John C. Lovett, Vice President of AutoPort, Inc. For the past nine years, John has coordinated AutoPort’s efforts to provide this important service to the tournament. “The fleet of cars is delivered to AutoPort where we perform our standard dealer pre-delivery service, which includes a complete detailing of the vehicle: car wash, fluids check, electrical check – and port processing services: application of protective coatings, installation or removal of vehicle accessories, a final inspection and staging the vehicles for pick-up.” At the end of the tournament the cars come back to AutoPort where they are cleaned and re-keyed and transportation is arranged to their final destination, the local car rental facilities. Lovett adds, “Every year we look forward to working with Ford and the LPGA McDonald Golf Tournament. We like to support charitable events and give back to our community. Working on the tournament cars allows us to do both.”

As illustrated by its work with the LPGA, AutoPort strives to provide quality services beginning with receipt of the vehicle and ending with delivery. This quality of service starts with their state-of-the-art bar coding system, where each vehicle is tracked real-time throughout the process to ensure quality vehicle preparation. Additionally, AutoPort's fleet conversion and vehicle restyling capabilities are an integral part of the full service package available to automotive manufacturers, leasing companies and fleet companies with both domestic and international interests.

It is people, however, not processes, who are AutoPort’s greatest asset. As Temple said, “fantastic people” make the difference. The average employee has been with the company for 12 years and brings that experience to bear on each and every vehicle processed. Their experienced employees, combined with their ISO 9000 rating for quality, means that AutoPort is maintaining its record for providing the highest personal and quality service in the industry.

AutoPort’s attention to the fleet of Ford vehicles is a key factor in the success of the LPGA event. Harry Temple, former LPGA Transportation Chairman, says, “The LPGA is a real labor of love. Two weeks before the tournament starts, our group picks up the vehicles from AutoPort and transports them to the DuPont Country Club. The transportation center at the DuPont C.C. is the central nerve center for assigning drivers to vehicles and coordinating over 15,000 trips to airports, hotels and surrounding country clubs. The vehicles travel to and from the surrounding airports picking up some of America’s top Fortune 500 CEOs, celebrities, players and officials. The vehicles have to be in top shape and AutoPort does 99% of the work to guarantee that our vehicles are always in service. Not only that, they are a great company with fantastic people that will go to the ends of the earth to guarantee the success of our efforts.”

AutoPort does 99% of the work to guarantee that our vehicles are always in service. Not only that, they are a great company with fantastic people that will go to the ends of the earth to guarantee the success of our efforts.