IMAGES: Available at www.media.ford.com and www.flickr.com/photos/fiestamovement.
CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:
Mark Kleis is a certifiably “car crazy” automotive enthusiast whose passion for all things car is topped only by his pride for his country. An outspoken online auto expert, Mark is making his opinions on the Fiesta known. As part of an innovative social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters will test drive and live with a European-spec Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions, who then will relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.
AGENT STATISTICS:
Name: Mark Kleis
Age: 25
Location: El Cajon, CA
Occupation: Professional Auto Detailer
Current Car Owned: 2006 Ford Focus ZX3
Missions Completed: 1
Twitter Followers: 1,076
Facebook or MySpace Friends: 134
YouTube Videos: 19
Flickr Photos: 35
DETAILS:
As a professional auto detailer, Mark knows about all there is to know about cars - especially Fords. Ever since he got his first Ford (a Ford Ranger Edge) at age 17, he’s been a self-proclaimed Ford fanatic. In the last eight years he’s worked at a Ford dealership, owned three Ford vehicles, convinced his friends and family to only buy Fords and spent hours upon hours participating in and moderating online forums created for Ford owners and auto detailing fanatics.
For Mark, applying for and subsequently being selected to join the Fiesta Movement meant being one step closer to fulfilling two of his long-term goals: joining the ranks of Ford’s marketing department (in an effort to provide a voice for consumers) and helping Ford to rebuild America. As a Fiesta agent, Mark is taking consumer feedback to a whole new level; he’s giving Ford enthusiasts – and critics – the opportunity to live vicariously with the Fiesta for six months.
His first adventure as a Ford agent? Packing three of his friends and their gear into his Fiesta for a road trip to Lake Havasu in Arizona. Determined to test the Fiesta in real-life scenarios, Mark decided to do his driving at night and has reported that the car handled beautifully. The brakes and headlamps proved helpful in avoiding small mice and coyotes that crossed his path and he managed to show his friends just how comfortable the Fiesta can be. All three of Mark's passengers commented on the “roominess” and high level of comfort that the Fiesta provided during their long trip.
His plans for the Fiesta are many; including a cross-country road trip to visit Detroit and increasing his “celebrity” status in the San Diego area where people of all ages and backgrounds stop to check out his new wheels.
QUOTES:
“The Fiesta Movement is larger than me, it’s larger than Ford - it is an opportunity to rebuild an American company that is helping to rebuild America.”
“I love that we (agents) get to drive a Fiesta with a manual transmission, because I think they’re a heck of a lot more fun to drive!”
“People see me with the Fiesta and you would think I’m Britney Spears, they openly do things like stare and point at me while I’m at red lights.”
Follow Mark Kleis:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Lumadar
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_kleis/
Facebook : http://profile.to/markkleis/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mark_kleis
Application Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfZu0V3T630
Personal Blog: www.MarkKleis.com
###
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.