Ford Motor Co.

Ford Motor Company and Progress Energy are expanding their plug-in vehicle research partnership to include the utility company’s Florida operations

ORLANDO, Fla., March 2, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is expanding the range of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research program as one of its regional utility partners, Progress Energy, expands its role by adding a Ford Escape PHEV to its Florida operations. Ford and Progress Energy made the announcement today at the University of Central Florida’s Solar Smart Grid in Orlando.    » read more »

Second-Quarter Production Up 144,000 Vehicles Versus Year Ago

DEARBORN, Mich., March 2, 2010 – Higher sales for every brand and in every product category propelled Ford Motor Company to a 43 percent sales increase in February versus a year ago. Compared with January, Ford’s February sales are up 22 percent.

“The strength of our new products and Ford’s leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value are resonating with customers,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. “The good news is we have even more new products and fuel-efficient powertrains coming this year, and we expect our progress to continue.”    » read more »

DEARBORN, Mich., March 5, 2010 – The 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, fresh off a sales record and a string of awards in 2009, are attracting more buyers who are new to the Ford brand than ever before.

The Fusion, redesigned in 2009, saw “conquest sales,” or sales to customers new to Ford, increase to 60 percent of total Fusion sales in February, up 6 percentage points from January and up 11 percentage points from the 2009 calendar year. The percentage of customers new to Ford purchasing the Fusion Hybrid reached 82 percent last month, up 12 points from January and 19 points from 2009.    » read more »

Fourth Quarter 2009 Net Income Of $868 Million

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 28, 2010 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported a full year 2009 pre-tax operating profit, excluding special items, of $454 million, a $7.3 billion improvement over a year ago.

The company said it now expects to be profitable for full year 2010 on a pre-tax basis excluding special items, for North America, total Automotive and total company, with positive Automotive operating-related cash flow.    » read more »

January 25, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) today sent letters to His Excellency, Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki of Japan, and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk urging that Japan use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) combined fuel economy rating when certifying a U.S.-manufactured vehicle for eligibility in the Japanese fleet modernization, or Eco-cars, program.

“The combined rating is the most balanced, fair, and accurate measurement of a vehicle’s fuel economy,” said Dingell. “It is therefore the most appropriate criteria to use to assess eligibility for Japan’s fleet modernization program.”    » read more »

Stabenow: Japan Made Fair Decision to Allow American Automakers to Participate in its “Cash for Clunkers” Program

January 19, 2010 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today made the following statement after Japan agreed to allow American automakers to participate in its “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Stabenow, the Senate author of the CARS program (otherwise known as “Cash for Clunkers”), authored a resolution directing the Office of the United States Trade Representative to stop the Japanese “cash for clunkers” program from discriminating against U.S. automakers.    » read more »

Stabenow: Japanese Cash for Clunkers Program Discriminates Against U.S. Automakers

December 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Senate author of the CARS program (otherwise known as “Cash for Clunkers”), today made the following statement regarding the Japanese “cash for clunkers” program.

“It’s outrageous that Japan denies that their ‘cash for clunkers’ program discriminates against American automakers. When we put together the CARS program, we followed international law and made it apply to all cars sold in the United States—not just American cars, which is what I would have greatly preferred. The Japanese program intentionally excludes our U.S. automakers through unfair trade practices.    » read more »

December 1, 2009 -- The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today praised the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) postponement of a decision on an ethanol producer waiver application seeking to increase the amount of ethanol permitted to be blended in gasoline from 10 to 15 percent. Automakers want government testing to prove that increasing the allowable ethanol blend limit will not harm vehicle emissions, performance, and durability.    » read more »

Los Angeles, Dec. 2, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid today was named Most Environmentally Progressive Car of the Year by Earth, Wind & Power™ (EWP) at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The award is designed to recognize vehicles driven by a power source that helps to reduce global warming, are conducive to promoting a cleaner environment, and support the mission to achieve energy through alternative sources.

“Ford’s Fusion Hybrid sedan has the styling punch of a powerhouse with authority built into the design,” said Kevin Smith, editorial director of Edmunds.com and one of 19 national automotive editors and journalists who selected the winner of the EWP award. “With unsurpassed fuel economy, this car has real ecological know-how. We call it purity on wheels.”    » read more »

New requirement to win is good rating for protection in rollovers

ARLINGTON, VA — Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010 For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests.

Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.    » read more »

Shows Nearly 200 Models Available That Achieve 30mpg Or More On Highway

November 5, 2009 -- According to the recently released Department of Energy-Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Guide, for 2010 there will be 193 models available that achieve fuel economy ratings of 30 miles per gallon or greater on the highway. This signifies a 47 percent increase over 2009 and further underscores automakers’ commitment to bringing cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles to consumers.    » read more »

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury October U.S. sales totaled 132,483, up 3 percent versus a year ago and 21 percent higher than September

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 3, 2009 – Ford, Lincoln and Mercury October U.S. sales totaled 132,483, up 3 percent versus a year ago and 21 percent higher than September. This marks the third time in the last four months Ford sales have increased.

“Consumer demand for our new high-quality, fuel-efficient products is driving Ford’s market share gains,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. “Ford vehicles are among the ‘freshest’ available by any automaker – with more than 80 percent of our sales in October coming from our new 2010 models.”    » read more »

Cash Flow Turns Positive; North America Profitable

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 2, 2009 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported net income of $997 million, or 29 cents per share, in the third quarter as strong new products, structural cost reductions and improved results at Ford Credit lifted the company’s results despite continued weak global economic conditions. This is a $1.2 billion improvement compared with the same period last year.    » read more »

Transit Connect BEV is the first production vehicle from accelerated electric vehicle strategy

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30 – Ford Motor Company announced today that Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD) has joined in a collaborative effort to deliver a pure battery electric Ford Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will integrate its Force Drive ™ battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use.

The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- DETROIT—A federal indictment was unsealed late yesterday in Detroit charging Xiang Dong Yu, aka Mike Yu, 47, of Beijing, China, with theft of trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets and unauthorized access to a protected computer, announced Terrence Berg, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Yu was arrested on Oct. 14, 2009 at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport upon entering the United States from China. Berg was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI.    » read more »