FordDirect Bets on AI, Taps SelectFI to Overhaul Dealer Financing

BALTIMORE, MD – May 14, 2026 – Ford and Lincoln dealerships across the United States are gaining access to a powerful new tool designed to modernize one of the most notoriously slow parts of the car buying process. Automotive lending technology platform SelectFI today announced its official launch on The Shop by FordDirect, the culmination of a rigorous year-long vetting process and a successful real-world pilot program.

The partnership makes SelectFI’s predictive lending software a preferred solution for thousands of dealers, aiming to slash time spent in the Finance & Insurance (F&I) office, improve loan approval rates, and increase transparency for customers.

A New Era for Ford's F&I Departments

For decades, the F&I office has been a bottleneck for dealerships and a source of friction for consumers. SelectFI aims to dismantle this legacy model with an AI-driven platform built for speed and accuracy. The system leverages soft credit pulls—which do not impact a consumer's credit score—to generate real-time, bank-specific financing offers. This allows sales staff to present customers with accurate, viable payment options early in the sales process, long before they step into the F&I manager's office.

The impact was validated in a pilot program at several Ford dealerships. Patrick Sexton, General Manager and Partner at Legacy Ford Rosenberg, part of the El Toro Auto Group, became an early adopter and advocate. "We use SelectFI on every single deal that comes through our store — it's just part of how we operate now," Sexton stated. "It's sped up our entire sales process, and on top of that, our approval rates have improved by over 10 points since we started using it."

This focus on solving real-world dealership problems is deeply embedded in the company's DNA. SelectFI founder Tommy Vullo built the platform based on his own experiences working in automotive retail. "SelectFI didn’t start in a boardroom — it started in the showroom," Vullo said. "With roots in Ford retail, I built this company with one goal: to give dealers like the ones I worked with the tools and lending relationships they deserve. Partnering with FordDirect feels like a full-circle moment."

The Rigor of the Road Test: FordDirect's Seal of Approval

SelectFI's inclusion in The Shop is more than a simple marketplace listing; it represents a formal endorsement from a key industry gatekeeper. The Shop by FordDirect is a curated B2B marketplace that connects dealers with vetted solutions, often at pre-negotiated prices. The goal is to help dealers navigate the evolving retail landscape without the guesswork and risk of sourcing their own tech vendors.

Before being accepted, SelectFI underwent an extensive, year-long evaluation by FordDirect. The process scrutinized every aspect of the platform, including its performance under real-world dealership conditions, its data security and privacy protocols, and its adherence to stringent regulatory compliance standards. SelectFI met all requirements across every category.

“As The Shop continues to grow as a curated B2B marketplace, we are dedicated to connecting Dealers with rigorously vetted solutions like SelectFi to help them spend more time focused on serving customers,” said Beth Hill, COO of The Shop. Hill noted that SelectFI’s AI-powered approach aligns perfectly with FordDirect’s mission to bring proven solutions that create “measurable operational and business impact” to its network.

For SelectFI, the partnership is a powerful validation of its technology and strategy. "Being a preferred vendor on FordDirect’s The Shop represents deliberate focus on aligning with forward-thinking companies that are creating entirely new product categories," said Andrew Sweet, CEO of SelectFI. "The vetting process validated what the pilot dealers already knew — that our technology delivers real results: faster deals, better compliance, and a financing experience that enhances the consumer journey."

Navigating the Competitive Landscape with AI

The automotive F&I software market, projected to exceed $21 billion in 2026, is a competitive space dominated by established giants like Dealertrack, CDK Global, and Reynolds and Reynolds. These companies typically offer comprehensive Dealer Management Systems (DMS) with integrated F&I modules. However, a new wave of specialized fintech startups is challenging the status quo by focusing on AI and machine learning to solve specific industry pain points.

SelectFI, which has raised over $7.3 million in funding, differentiates itself with a nimble, AI-first approach. Its platform is a web-based application that does not require deep integration with a dealer's existing DMS, a factor that significantly lowers the barrier to adoption. Instead of trying to replace the entire dealership software stack, it offers a focused, high-impact solution for predictive lending.

This strategy appears to be resonating in a market where dealers are increasingly seeking practical applications of artificial intelligence that deliver a clear return on investment. The platform's AI analyzes lender decisioning patterns to predict approvals and rates, effectively matching a customer's credit profile to the most likely and favorable lending options, thereby streamlining the entire process.

Balancing Innovation with Trust and Transparency

While the efficiency gains for dealers are clear, the partnership also signals a shift toward a more consumer-friendly car buying experience. By providing accurate financing quotes upfront using soft credit pulls, the technology reduces the 'bait and switch' anxiety many buyers feel. This transparency helps build trust and empowers customers to make more informed decisions.

The rise of AI in lending is not without its challenges. Regulatory bodies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are closely monitoring the use of algorithms in credit decisions to prevent potential bias and ensure fair lending practices. In this environment, a commitment to compliance is paramount.

SelectFI addresses this head-on by embedding audit-ready documentation and compliant workflows into every transaction. This built-in compliance was a key component of FordDirect's vetting process and is a critical feature for dealerships navigating a complex regulatory landscape. By helping to eliminate decision bias and ensuring a consistent, documented process, the platform aims to reduce regulatory risk for dealers while fostering a more equitable financing environment for consumers. This partnership between a legacy automotive giant and an agile tech startup illustrates the path forward for an industry in transformation, where data-driven efficiency and customer-centric transparency are no longer optional but essential for growth.