Ford Certified Used Parts aims to solve the trust gap that still holds back used parts adoption. By combining established dismantling capability with Ford-backed standards, testing, traceability and ecommerce support, the programme is designed to make reused parts a credible first-choice option rather than a risky fallback for repairs.
Used parts are no longer just a last-resort option pulled from the margins of the aftermarket. Rebecca Smart, Managing Director at Autonative, explains how Ford Certified Used Parts aims to make reuse a trusted, brand-backed choice by combining established dismantling capabilities with the standards, assurance, and customer experience buyers now expect.
From scrap yard gamble to structured supply
I remember going with my Father to local scrap yards as a child, wandering through rows of cars looking for something usable. There’s a real sense of nostalgia in that, the time we shared, dirty trainers, the hum of machinery, and that slim chance of finding something that might actually do the job. But it was always a gamble. You were lucky if you found the part you needed, and luckier still if it worked as it should.
That’s still how many people picture the used parts market today. And with that comes a degree of hesitation: is it a legitimate part, where has it come from, can I trust it to work, what if it’s simply scrap?
And yet, what struck me as we began working on Ford Certified Used Parts is just how far the industry has actually moved on. In sourcing the right supply partner, I saw firsthand how advanced, structured, and quality-driven these operations are now. The capability is there, far beyond the general perception. But the gap isn’t just supply. It’s also trust.
Why trust matters as much as availability
At Autonative, as Ford’s ecommerce partner for aftersales, we sit at the intersection of brand, supply and customer experience, managing end-to-end ecommerce for OEM aftersales across the UK and Europe. Ford Certified Used Parts is our launch programme in this space, the first step in unlocking the full potential of used parts within a brand-backed ecommerce model.
Autonative prides itself on understanding how customers actually behave and what they truly need. Our purpose is simple: to equip vehicle manufacturers with direct, meaningful relationships with their customers so they win in the digital era.
What we’ve seen is clear. Customers aren’t opposed to used parts. In many cases, they actively prefer them.
What’s been missing is confidence. Not just in the part itself, but in everything around it. Clear information, reliable support, and reassurance about what happens if something goes wrong.
That’s where the opportunity became clear. It wasn’t about reinventing supply. It was about connecting what already exists with what customers expect. By combining those capabilities with a clear view of how people want to search and buy, we’ve designed and implemented Ford-backed testing standards that build on VRA frameworks and apply brand assurance to every part to achieve certification. The result is simple: an experience that feels no different to buying a new part. And why should it?
And that changes the role used parts can play. They’re no longer a fallback or a compromise. They become a genuine choice, supported, understood and easy to access.
Industry partners are seeing the same shift. Jordon Trent, Customer Service Director at Charles Trent, says:
“Not long ago, the idea of a major vehicle manufacturer actively endorsing second hard parts would have seemed unlikely. It’s something the industry wouldn’t have expected. What’s changed is the recognition that cost and supply chain challenges can’t be solved by new parts alone. This program is a clear signal that recycled parts, when delivered to the right standard, have a role to play within the OEM ecosystem. I expect we’ll see more of this over the coming years”
From fallback option to first-choice part
For me, that’s also where this becomes more personal. I’ve always loved ecommerce; simplifying complex journeys is what’s driven my career. Before joining Autonative, I spent many years in senior roles across the edtech sector, where that same focus on access had a very visible sense of impact. Moving into ecommerce didn’t change what I enjoy, but that wider connection wasn’t always as immediate.
What stood out to me about this programme is that it brings those two things back together. It’s about extending choice, making reuse something people can actively choose, rather than something they feel uncertain about. For me, there’s something powerful about turning what already exists into a first-choice option again.
What’s changing is the expectation. Used parts are no longer something customers reluctantly turn to; they’re becoming something they can actively choose.
We’re still at an early stage, but the direction is clear. This is the shift from chance to choice. And it changes everything.
