In the commercial fleet space, Ford said many companies are adopting the C-MAX Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan. Select companies include Con-way, Esurance, Quest Diagnostics, and AT&T, according to Ford. The automaker said it has seen greater demand for fuel-efficient models, and especially hybrids, from its fleet customers.

Transportation and logistics company Con-way, with more than 500 locations in North America, is adding more than 1,000 Fusion Hybrids to its fleet this year, according to Ford. The company is purchasing these vehicles for its operations and sales personnel at its Con-Way Freight, Con-way Truckload, and Menlo Worldwide Logistics units. Ford said Con-way expects to save more than 1 million gallons of gasoline and reduce emissions by up to 45% by operating Fusion Hybrids compared to traditionally fueled vehicles.

“Besides the obvious benefits of improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, the advanced technologies in Fusion Hybrid are just as important,” said Mitch Plaat, Con-way vice president of procurement. “Ford’s technology suite – which includes lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, backup cameras, navigation system and the SYNC hands-free system – helps Con-way reduce accidents and improve highway safety for employees, their families and other motorists."

Esurance is another company buying Fusion Hybrids, and the insurance company is purchasing 50 of these vehicles for its claims fleet. Esurance expects to save more than 69,000 gallons of gas in the years to come, according to Ford.

Quest Diagnostics has added 150 C-MAX Hybrids to its fleet, according to Ford.

“As the leading diagnostic information services company, we maintain a significant national logistics operation for transporting millions of patient specimens each year for testing at our clinical laboratories,” said Clete Lewis, director, environmental, health and safety, Quest Diagnostics. “Given our scale, the type of vehicles in our fleet can really make a difference to the environment and our business costs.”

Lewis added the C-MAX will help reduce fuel costs and improve health in the communities the company serves through reduced emissions.

For AT&T, Ford did not provide details as to the number or type of vehicles the company purchased other than noting it was either the C-MAX or Fusion Hybrid.