• Grand opening held under the patronage of HE Minister of Trade and Industry in Kurdistan, with presence of HE US Consul General and delegation of Ford Middle East
• Al-Kasid Group serves Ford customers across all of the Iraqi market, with sales, service and maintenance support in Erbil, Dohuk, Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad, with solid plans to have presence in all major governorates by end of 2019
• Ford reaffirms commitment to customers in the region by continuing to expand its distributor network

ERBIL, Iraq, July 10, 2018 – Al Kasid Group, Ford’s authorized distributor in all of Iraq, today held the grand opening of its dedicated Ford sales, service and spare parts facility in Erbil, at a special event held in presence of HE the Minister of Trade and industry in Kurdistan, HE the US Consul General, a delegation from Ford Middle East management as well as local dignitaries and press.

The new two-storey complex occupies a 8,400 square meter site in a distinguished area on Mosul road, with a state-of-the-art showroom with immaculate customer service areas, a large service department, and a dedicated department specializing in original Ford and MotorCraft® spare parts. The complex also houses sales, service and spare parts facilities for Ford commercial vehicles.

Al-Kasid Group also is opening a new dedicated showroom facility in Baghdad, as part of its efforts to expand the Ford brand’s presence across the country and bringing world-class renowned Ford products closer to customers. The all-new 730 square meter facility is situated in Al Jadiriyah Street, near the University of Baghdad, and joins the existing Ford Service Centre in the nearby district of Camp Sarah.

According to company officials, plans very well on track to have Ford representation in all major governorates by the end of 2019.

“We’re very pleased with the tremendous progress our local distributors Al-Kasid Group has achieved so far,” said Met Arias, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Middle East & Africa. “Since their appointment as our distributor in Iraq, the Al-Kasid team has taken full ownership of their commitment to the Ford brand as well as growing the business across Iraq, and we commend them for their passion and commitment to our customers in Iraq.”

Mouwafak A. Jamil, Chairman & CEO of Al-Kasid Group, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Ford as its official distributor in  Iraqi , and we’re extremely proud of our progress since our appointment six months ago. Al-Kasid Group has been a pioneer in the market and a leader in the automotive sector in Iraq for decades, and our dedicated team is fully committed to serve our customers by offering Ford’s exciting, world-class products, from our new facilities.”

Speaking at the media event in Erbil, Bilal Jabak, Regional Sales manager, Ford Middle East, said: “It gives us great pleasure to help dedicate these world-class Ford facilities with Al-Kasid Group. Offering customers in Iraq world-class products and a superior ownership experience is our key priority, and Ford is committed to this. We are confident that Al-Kasid Group’s strong market presence and commitment to service excellence will provide Ford customers the very best levels of support.”

Al-Kasid Group is also well advanced with plans to open an all-new Ford facility  in Sulaymaniyah. The new facility will open in late 2018 and feature an impeccable new showroom, large service area, and a dedicated spare parts facility.

Ford expects to see tremendous demand for its new generation Ford Expedition full-size SUV and extremely adaptable and Built Ford Tough F-150 pickup truck in Iraq. Both are powered by the new 3.5-litre EcoBoost^® V6 which delivers more power and torque than ever before – and both offer unparalleled levels of comfort, refinement and flexibility in their respective classes.

“Iraq is an important market for Ford,” added Jabak. “We believe the continued growth of our distribution network here is important for our customers as we demonstrate our commitment to the local market. Together with Al-Kasid Group, we look forward to growing the Ford business and deliver excellent products and customer experience.”