Aston Martin Financial Services has joined the F&I accreditation scheme from BMW’s Alphera, and will see its franchised dealers enroll in a pathway to gain certification.
Aston Martin currently has a funding agreement in place with Alphera, BMW’s independent finance house for other makes.
Alphera launched the scheme in June in partnership with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). The accreditation pathway looks to complement the Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) programmes from the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA). Accreditation under SAF is a prerequisite to enroll in Alphera’s F&I scheme.
Steve Underwood, managing director global for Aston Martin Financial Services, said: ““It’s incumbent on our dealers to provide the most accurate information to customers purchasing an Aston Martin on finance. This is as much about offering our customers the high quality of service they expect from us, as it is ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance in every finance sale.
“The IMI accreditation programme is helping F&I business managers to assess customers’ needs and consistently match them with the most appropriate finance product. Many of our business managers are already putting their new-found skills and knowledge to good use.”
Spencer Halil, Alphera director, said: “As well as safeguarding the compliant sale of F&I products, industry-recognised F&I accreditation will help Aston Martin dealers build trust and even greater relationships with customers.
“In partnership with the IMI, we see the introduction of F&I accreditation as a significant step towards establishing consistently high standards in the sale of vehicle finance across the industry.”
Encouraged by growth in recent years, Aston Martin is currently seeking an IPO that could value it as much as £5bn.
