For those unfamiliar with the term, a name-match policy effectively states that when a person orders a car through a dealer, they must be the sole recipient of said vehicle. Example: you order a Ford F-150 Lightning. A dealer then tells Ford what you want, and you must then be the person who gets the car. That sounds like exactly how dealers are supposed to work, but sometimes dealers use these systems to create spare inventory where there is none, telling Ford that someone has ordered a car who hasn’t.
The new policy says that 75% of cars ordered by dealers must be name-matched to a customer. Previously, the policy said that number had to be 70% of cars ordered. Ford is also closing a loophole. Previously, a provision allowed dealers a 120-day period from the order receipt date to the dealer delivery date, after which that 70% name-match policy was voided. Now, dealers will be held accountable for every violation of the name-match policy, regardless of circumstance.