Ford Corporate

Ford of Europe Holds Market Share in a Weaker Industry

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:52:23 +0000

COLOGNE, August 19, 2008 – Ford of Europe's total sales in its main 51 markets rose by two per cent to 1,196,200 in the first seven months this year.

Highlights:
* July market share in the Euro 19 markets holds at 8.4 per cent, although sales were down by 6.6 per cent
* Across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,196,200 vehicles in the first seven months, an increase of two per cent vs. 2007
* July sales in Germany rose by 8.8 per cent, and in the UK by 4.3 per cent

Strong sales in Russia and the company's 30 Direct Markets helped to offset lower sales in some of the traditional 19 European markets.

Ford Names Seven Additional Members to Key Supplier Network

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:23:54 +0000

Ford's Family Of Strategic Suppliers

Traverse City, Mich., Aug. 15, 2008 – Ford Motor Company today announced seven new Aligned Business Framework (ABF) suppliers, bringing the total number of companies in the ABF network to 65. Under ABF, Ford and suppliers enter into long-term contracts to strengthen collaboration and drive mutual profitability and technology development.

Highlights:

* Aligned Business Framework members added in the last year include: Dürr, Imagination, Jack Morton Worldwide, Linamar, Microsoft, Neapco and Synovate
* ABF launched in 2005 to strengthen supplier collaboration and develop a sustainable business model for mutual profitability and technology development

Ford Motor Company's Global Product Plan to Drive Increased Small Car Profits

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:01:41 +0000

New Team To Bolster Vehicle Connectivity

Traverse City, Mich., Aug. 13, 2008 -- Ford Motor Company expects the quality, fuel efficiency, smart technologies and shared global nature of its upcoming new Focus small car in North America and other derivatives built off a new global C-car platform to deliver a double-digit percentage profit improvement compared with today's North American Focus.

Highlights:
* Ford's upcoming new Focus in North America and other small car derivatives built off a new global C-car platform will deliver a double-digit percentage profit improvement compared with the company's current North American Focus

Speech by Ford's Mark Fields at Traverse City Management Briefing Seminar

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:23:21 +0000

Aug. 13, 2008 -- Following are remarks given by Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company's president of The Americas, at "Transcending Turbulence," the Management Briefing Seminar held by the Center for Automotive Research in Traverse City, Mich., on Aug. 13, 2008.

Good morning, everyone. It's always great to be part of the Management Briefing Seminars - and energizing to hear what's top of mind among industry leaders.

I was thinking back to this event and others like it just two years ago:

* The industry was nervous because gas prices were approaching $3 a gallon.
* Second-quarter truck sales represented just 12.7 percent of the industry.
* Customers were just starting to hear a lot more about crossovers.

Ford Motor Company’s Improved Quality Performance Equals Big Savings in Warranty Repair Costs

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:19:55 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 13, 2008 – The warranty repair rate for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the United States is now almost 60 percent lower than it was in 2004. The falling repair rate contributed to a $1.2 billion reduction in Ford’s worldwide warranty costs over the past 18 months.

The reason is simple: Ford vehicle quality is improving quickly.

As Ford strives to be best in class in every phase of vehicle development – from design to pre-delivery – internal measures continue to show the company is making significant quality strides. For example, transmission warranty work for 2005 model Ford vehicles with three years in service dropped by more than 50 percent compared with the 2004 model year.

Ford Motor Company Donates Over $200,000 to Support Disabled American Veterans

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:34:05 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 9, 2008 -- Ford Motor Company announced today that it will donate seven Ford Taurus X vehicles, valued at over $200,000, to support transportation needs of disabled veterans in seven select U.S. cities. Through Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, the company is continuing an annual tradition of donating vehicles to the organization; more than 130 have been given since 1996.

The announcement was made at the 87th annual Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Convention in Las Vegas. The vehicles will be used by Veterans Hospitals to transport disabled veterans to and from medical appointments.

Ford Motor Company Sets Best-In-Class Quality Targets on All-New Global Small Vehicles

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:19:40 +0000

New compact vehicles expected to achieve 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership

Traverse City, Mich., Aug. 11, 2008 -- After climbing to the upper ranks in vehicle quality in the past two years, Ford Motor Company said today it has set an aggressive new target -- best-in-class initial quality for compact cars the company will launch in North America in 2010.

Highlights:
* Ford targets best-in-class initial quality for 2010 Ford Focus and other compact-sized vehicles built off new global C-car platform for the North American market.
* Standardized quality operating system ensures customer-driven quality elements are designed into and built into all vehicles.

Ford of Europe Sets Sales Record in First Half of 2008

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:38:19 +0000

In the first six months Ford of Europe sold a record 1,003,700 vehicles in its 51 markets

COLOGNE, July 15, 2008 – Ford of Europe's sales in its main 51 markets rose by almost two per cent to a record 1,003,700 in the first half of this year.

Highlights:
* First half record also for Ford Transit commercial vehicle sales which soared to 99,400 in the Euro 19 markets
* June market share in the Euro 19 markets was at 8.8 per cent, up 0.6 per cent vs the same period last year
* Germany sales increased by 16.9 per cent in June

2008 Ford Kuga (UK)

Ford Motor Company Scores High on Annual NAACP Report Card

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:30:40 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15 – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced today that Ford Motor Company once again received one of the highest grades awarded on the Economic Reciprocity Initiative (ERI) automotive industry report card. Results of the study were released at the NAACP's 99th Annual Convention, themed Power, Justice, Freedom & The Vote, at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, OH.

Highlights:
* NAACP votes Ford as one of its top performers on 2008 Economic Reciprocity Initiative report card
* Ford serves as title sponsor of NAACP Convention’s Youth Freedom Fund Dinner for the ninth consecutive year
* Ford sponsors attendees’ tickets to Freedom’s Sisters traveling exhibition at Cincinnati Museum Center

Ford Motor Company to Help Shelby Automobiles Return to Racing with Road America Team

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:25:19 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15, 2008 – Thanks to Ford Motor Company’s sponsorship of the 2008 Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman at Road America, an official factory racing team from Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., (CSBI.PK) will once again roar onto the track. Four authentic Shelby 427 Cobras will compete in the races in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., beginning July 17 through 20, 2008. This is the first factory race initiative from Shelby Autos and Ford Motor Company since 1969.

Highlights:
• Ford’s sponsorship of the 2008 Kohler International Challenge made it possible for the Shelby Automobiles Racing Team to return.