Maitland Ford’s Acquisition of Highland Ford

1. What is happening between Maitland Ford Lincoln and Highland Ford?

Maitland Ford Lincoln is acquiring Highland Ford in a friendly and strategic transaction that brings both dealerships together under one unified operation. A Ford and Lincoln Supercentre serving Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area. This move allows us to strengthen our service, streamline operations, and provide an even better experience for our customers across Sault Ste. Marie.

2. Why are the two dealerships merging?

This merger allows us to combine resources, improve efficiency, expand inventory levels, and deliver stronger service capacity. The automotive industry continues to evolve, and consolidating into one dealership ensures long-term stability and a higher-quality experience for our customers and employees.

3. What does this mean for Highland Ford customers?

Highland Ford customers are welcome to begin shopping, servicing, and enjoying all dealership services at Maitland Ford immediately. Our teams are working together to make the transition as smooth and positive as possible.

4. Will Maitland Ford continue to service Highland Ford customers’ vehicles?

Absolutely. All Highland Ford customers are encouraged to bring their vehicles to Maitland Ford for maintenance, repairs, warranty work, recall appointments, and Ford service needs. You will receive the same level of care and support you are used to — and in many cases, expanded service capacity.

5. Will the staff from Highland Ford be moving over to Maitland Ford?

We understand how important this question is to our staff and our community. At this stage, we are actively reviewing operational needs, roles, and the best way to integrate both teams.

What we can say now:

  • Our goal is to ensure a smooth and respectful transition for all employees.
  • We are committed to open communication throughout the process.
  • While we cannot guarantee that every position will transition exactly as-is, we are doing everything possible to retain talent where operationally feasible.
  • Decisions will be made thoughtfully, with fairness and long-term stability in mind.

We deeply value our people, and ensuring clarity and respect for our teams is a top priority throughout the merger.

6. Will the hours of operation or service availability change?

We do not anticipate any immediate changes to our business hours. If any adjustments become necessary as operations consolidate, all customers will be notified well in advance.

7. Will vehicle inventory from Highland Ford be moved to Maitland Ford?

Yes. As part of the integration, new and used vehicle inventory from Highland Ford will be transitioned to Maitland Ford. This will create one of the strongest and most diverse Ford inventories in Northern Ontario.

8. What will happen to warranties and service histories from Highland Ford?

All Ford warranties remain fully valid and unaffected. Service records will transition to Maitland Ford so that customers experience a seamless continuation of their maintenance and repair history.

9. Will customers notice changes right away?

Some updates will occur gradually as the two stores align operations, while other changes—such as expanded inventory and service availability—may be seen quickly. Our focus is to keep the transition smooth and minimize any disruption to customer experience.

10. Who can customers contact if they have additional questions?

For any questions about the transition, customers can contact the Maitland Ford management team at:

Judith Kovala, Managing Partner – 
jkovala@maitlandford.com

Marc McKinnon, Managing Partner – mmckinnon@maitlandford.com

Maitland Ford Lincoln
1124 Great Northern Road
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
705-759-4545

We’re here to help and committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way.