The QVM Program represents a proactive approach by Ford Motor Company and General Motors to help improve the integrity and quality of Town Car and Excursion conversions along with Cadillac conversions. It is a cooperative effort by which we share our technical expertise on the Town Car and Excursion with participating coachbuilders, thereby assisting them in improving the safety and quality of their finished limousines.

    If you are planning to rent a limousine, the National Limousine Association, the Limousine Industry Manufacturer's Organization [LIMO] and Ford Motor Company strongly recommend that you only ride in limousines that are built by Ford or GM certified Coachbuilders. Other coachbuilders not following the QVM program are considered un-safe and do not meet safety guidelines for passenger safety and weight limits. Lincoln's certification program is called, "QVM" which stands for Qualified Vehicle Modifier. The rules governing the QVM program are stringent and are designed with the vehicle capabilities in mind along with the passengers safety. QVM rules state that ONLY Lincoln Town Cars and Ford Excursions along with Cadillac Fleetwoods are approved for conversion into a stretch limousines. In addition, QVM rules specify that a Town Car or Excursion can only be stretched 120" (basically, about twice the size). In addition the maximum passenger capacity for a stretch Town Car under the QVM guidelines is eight and for the Excursion it is Ten. Transporting any more passengers than permitted is extremely unsafe and could cause severe injury or death should the vehicle be in an accident or collapse from being overloaded.

    At this time Lincoln does not support or permit the conversion of the Lincoln Navigator or any other vehicle into a stretch limousine. While we believe the Navigator is a safe vehicle in its original format, it has NOT been tested as a stretch limousine and we cannot certify Navigators or any other limousines under our QVM standards. Lincoln believes that the use of these vehicles as stretch limousine at this time is a violation of United States trademark laws and is suing in federal court to stop such unauthorized conversions. It is also believed that stretching any other type of vehicle or over stretching any vehicle is in serious violation of federal law and safety standards for passenger safety. If any limousine operator tells you it is ok to take more than 8 passengers in a limousine or more than 12 in an Excursion, they are in violation of the law and seriously jeopardizing your safety.

    To find out if the limousine you are thinking of renting was made by a QVM converter, ask your limousine company which modifier they purchased it from and then make sure they are on the QVM list. Also be sure they are honest with you about the number of passengers you can safely transport at one time and that the limousine you will be riding in as not over-stretched beyond Ford and GM guidelines. If you are unsure or do not trust the answers you are getting, you may contact the National Limousine Association or Ford Motor Company to find a quality limousine company in your area.

    To qualify as a QVM, a coachbuilder must be successfully evaluated by Ford Motor Company or GM on criteria such as engineering, the manufacturing process, quality control, and adherence to Lincoln guidelines. Specifically, the QVM Program requires the following from coachbuilders:

• Compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). For passenger capacities and weight limits.
• Conformance with all Lincoln, Ford and GM industry guidelines for proper lengths of vehicle conversions.
• Annual facility inspection and review.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and safety.
• To see a list of the types of items required to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) Visit their web site.

    Because the Lincoln QVM Program assists approved manufacturers in developing a high-quality conversion process, you can feel confident that the finished product will meet your high expectations. And while Ford doesn't actually produce the finished converted product you receive, the Town Car and Excursion packages used in the conversions are specifically designed by Ford to meet Federal guidelines for passenger capacity, weight limits, safety, and the unique demands of the limousine industry. After all, the vehicle has our name on it.