OREANDA-NEWS. Lincoln recently opened the new Nantong Mingdu Lincoln Store, its third dealership in Jiangsu province.

The new opening marks the 15th dealership to open in 12 cities across China. The iconic American luxury brand had originally planned to open 25 Lincoln dealerships by the end of 2015, but with proper planning and tireless effort from both Lincoln China and their dealership partners, the expansion plan is now progressing ahead of schedule.

Lincoln is also on track to fulfill its promise to have 60 Lincoln Stores in 50 cities by the end of 2016. The dealership network will cover key metropolitan areas in China, as the perception of luxury in China continues to shift.

The confidence of Lincoln dealership partners was boosted by positive consumer feedback. They are working hard to deliver Lincoln’s global standard to more customers as quickly as possible to meet demand.

“The progress we have achieved is based on our relentless pursuit of understanding the deepest needs of Chinese premium auto consumers,” said Robert Parker, president, Lincoln China. “A new generation of Chinese customers are viewing luxury as more than a statement of their personal net worth. They are seeking unique individuality through luxury, and our personally crafted experience of The Lincoln Way will be well appreciated by Chinese customers.”

The Lincoln Way, a personal journey with Lincoln

The Lincoln Way is an innovative luxury automotive purchase and ownership experience tailored to Chinese customers and underpins Lincoln’s development. Developed through an intensive study of industries from luxury to hospitality, it promises a unique, personalized experience for each customer.

The Lincoln Way commits to a “one-size-fits-one” approach, and puts customers first at every touch point. The Lincoln Team has received rigorous training to work together in guiding the customer through their journey with Lincoln, from the first contact, to post-purchase relationship management.

Service hours are extended for customers, when necessary, and complete sales and service transparency is provided throughout, including a live on-site video feed during maintenance and repair. Personalized drive routes can also be arranged at any dealership or online.

Lincoln dealerships are built around their customers, using clean, elegant designs, harmonious colors and quality materials. A Personalization Studio allows guests to customize their ideal Lincoln vehicle. Prospective customers can even view a life-size image of their vehicle—inside and out—with family and friends before making a decision.

Through these practices, Lincoln is building lasting and engaging relationships with its customers, and further establishing itself as a distinctive player in the Chinese automobile market.

Progress supported by strong products

Also supplementing Lincoln’s strong progress in China is an impressive and strong lineup of vehicles. In addition to the small utility Lincoln MKC and medium-sized sedan Lincoln MKZ already available, Lincoln will introduce three more models by the end of 2016 and cover about 80 percent of China’s luxury auto market segments.

The medium-large sized utility Lincoln MKX and full-sized luxury SUV Lincoln Navigator will arrive at Lincoln dealerships in the latter half of 2015 after their debuts at Auto Shanghai. Another show favorite, the much-anticipated full-size sedan Lincoln Continental Concept, will launch its production model in China next year.

“The combination of The Lincoln Way and its world-class models, while echoing Lincoln’s heritage, ensures a pleasant driver and passenger experience,” said Xinyue Xu, chairman, Jiangsu Mingdu Automotive Group. “We are excited to bring Lincoln to our customers in Nantong and serve them with our personalized services.”?