Lincoln expands new chauffeur service to Calif.

Amid a rebranding that amplifies customer service, Lincoln Motor Co. announced Friday it is expanding a new chauffeur service to the West Coast.

Launched in Miami earlier this year, the Lincoln Chauffeur service provides a trained driver to escort customers to appointments, run errands, and refuel and wash the vehicle while the client isn’t using it. That service will now be offered to Lincoln customers in San Diego.

“This service is generating a lot of interest among Lincoln owners,” Eric Cin, Lincoln client services manager, said in a statement. “They’re using it for dinner dates, for doctor appointments; they’re recognizing just how convenient it is to have this option available.”

The service is a pilot program for Ford Motor Co.’s luxury brand. The services costs $30 per hour, though customers participating in the pilot get $250 in complimentary service, which amounts to about eight hours of free service.

Ultimately, it’s part of a multifaceted approach from Kumar Galhotra, president of Lincoln, as the company begins to focus on saving Lincoln customers’ time. “We noticed that the greatest luxury is time,” Galhotra has said.

Other services in the same vein include the company’s at-home test drives, which allow potential customers in Houston and Dallas to have vehicles brought to their homes for testing.

These programs follow the extension of Lincoln’s pick-up and delivery service to all 2017 and future vehicles. Previously, those who purchased Lincoln’s optional Black Label experience package, which adds around $6,000 to the sticker price, had the pick-up service in addition to custom vehicle interiors and membership perks like VIP-style meals and free car washes.

ithibodeau@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Ian_Thibodeau