MAY 2009

FEBRUARY, 2009

Ford Focused on Turnaround without Government Aid; Distancing Itself from GM, Chrysler - CNN - Lou Dobbs Tonight

Reporter Lisa Sylvester reports on Ford distancing itself from GM and Chrysler by not taking government money.  Ford CEO Alan Mulally, who turned Boeing around, came to Ford over two years ago and started focusing on restructuring Ford. He also secured a $23 billion line of credit from private banks before the credit freeze. 

Ford has made huge strides in the quality and fuel efficiency of its vehicles and wants customers to understand that Ford has its own story and is tackling the difficult economy in its own way.  

Click the following link to view video, (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2009/02/20/sylvester.ford.last.one.standing.cnn?iref=videosearch)

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Ford Benefits as GM, Chrysler Stumble - Wall Street Journal

Ford Motor Co., which hasn't taken a dime of government bailout loans, is benefiting from the troubles of its two cross-town competitors in Detroit, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

GM and Chrysler are required to seek cost concessions from the United Auto Workers union under the terms of their federal loans. That allowed Ford to open parallel talks with the UAW, which has a history of working out the same conditions at each company.

This week, Ford and the UAW reached an agreement to cut pay for laid-off workers, ease work rules and eliminate wage increases tied to the cost of living -- two days before GM and Chrysler reached the same deal.

To read more, click here.

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SUNDAY, JAN. 11, 2009

upscale, tech-savvy NEW TAUrus flagship delivers style, substance for full-size sedan buyers in 2010

DETROIT, Jan.11, 2009 ? The Ford Taurus ? the car that changed America?s view of full-size sedans ? is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world?s best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag.

 ?The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford?s growing new car launch momentum,? said Mark Fields, president of The Americas.  ?This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for ? and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering ? quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design.?

The new Taurus benefits from Ford?s Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner ? with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible.

?Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio,? said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development.  ?Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule.?

Even better news?  The new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 ? the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals premium luxury sedans.

?The new Taurus showcases the what the Ford brand promise is ? expressive design, class-leading technologies and an engaging driving experience,? said Jim Farley, Ford?s group vice president of Marketing and Communications.  ?To truly appreciate the new Taurus, you have to drive it.  All of the experiences come together once you?re behind the wheel.?

New times, new design

?Lightning can strike twice,? said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design for The Americas.  ?Like the 1986 original, the new 2010 Taurus differentiates by combining style with substance.?

The shift starts with the vision for Taurus itself.  It debuted as a family sedan, but with the advent of crossovers, the new Taurus is aimed more at drivers who might move friends and family but place more of a premium on the driving experience and technologies aimed at making time on the road more meaningful and fun.

?Taurus is more of a ?me? sedan now, and we?ve delivered with this buyer in mind,? said Moray Callum, director of Ford?s Car and Crossover Design.

Exterior design details are more sculpted and powerful ? from the powerdome that speaks to the strength behind its confident grille to the pronounced fenders and fascia. 

Bold new headlights combined with recessed parking lamps frame a new expression of the signature Ford three-bar grille ? and the lowered roofline helps make the new Taurus more aspirational. 

New wheels, from 17- to 20-inches in diameter, fill the sculpted wheel wells and lend Taurus a muscular and athletic stance.  The raised shoulder lines of the new Taurus provide a confident profile and enable generous truck capacity.

The exterior color palette for the 2010 Taurus includes new hues, selected to harmonize with interior appointments and offer customers a broader range of color combinations.  New colors include Candy Red Metallic Tint, White Platinum Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Gold Leaf Metallic and Ingot Silver Metallic. 

Inside, a forward-leaning center stack ? home to the climate controls, audio components and available navigation screen ? flows in a continuous unbroken form through the instrument panel and down into the center console.  The smart design allows for the interior to be formed with unbroken lines to impart seamless quality and craftsmanship. 

The door panels employ an innovative urethane tooling process providing unique texture and identity to surfaces, with visible stitching and a hand crafted appeal.  This same process allows for door panel two-toning, enabling model series differentiation.

The new Taurus? precision craftsmanship is reflected in the quality of materials used in the interior as well as the exterior panel margins, which are comparable to costly German luxury sedans.

Better on-road performance, too

To match its more athletic looks, the new Taurus features sportier driving dynamics.

The 2010 Taurus comes standard with Ford?s proven Duratec 3.5-liter V-6, generating an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque.  This award-winning engine earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions.

The smooth and refined Duratec V-6 helps the front-wheel-drive Taurus deliver unsurpassed highway fuel economy.  Taurus reflects Ford?s commitment to deliver the best, or be among the leaders, in fuel economy across the vehicle segments where it competes.    

Taurus fuel economy is aided by employment of a two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off technology.

The Taurus engine plan also calls for optional availability of Ford?s advanced EcoBoost? 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability coming soon.

The Taurus SE offers a six-speed automatic transmission with a Grade-Assist hill-holding rollback prevention feature, paired with an economical 2.77 final drive ratio. 

SEL and Limited series Taurus models are offered with SelectShift^®, featuring racing-inspired shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel.  SelectShift offers the convenience of conventional automatic operation, or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection.  The SelectShift transmission enables ?match-rev? downshifts and will hold manually selected gears, unlike some competitive transmissions that second-guess the driver. 

The SEL is offered with a 2.77 final drive ratio, while the Limited series uses a 3.16 gear in front-wheel-drive models, and a 3.39 ratio in all-wheel-drive models to provide enhanced acceleration.

Chassis and suspension components are tuned to deliver on the sporty and aggressive design with optimized roll stiffness for cornering control, responsive steering with sharp turn-in and precision accuracy.  This chassis tuning of the MacPherson front struts and multi-link rear suspension reflects Ford Global DNA, defined by responsive steering and handling, while maintaining a comfortable ride quality. 

The 2010 Taurus features a new SR1 suspension configuration.  

Named for its ?one-to-one? rear shock absorber ratio, it provides a superior balance between cornering and handling while providing a stable baseline for fine tuning.  The new SR1 enables the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels ? and reduces vehicle weight, saving fuel.

?While driver engagement was a key objective for the new Taurus, we also put huge emphasis on creating a quiet environment,? said Chief Engineer Pete Reyes.  ?Wind tunnel development time was important to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, but it also helped with fuel economy.

Customer-focused technologies

 Tech-savvy customers will find plenty to like about the new 2010 Taurus.  Its technologies enable customer connectivity, while fulfilling desires for personalization, customization and control.  This comprehensive list of features isn?t just technology for the sake of technology.  These offerings have been selected and developed to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience for the driver and all passengers.  Extensive work has also been done to ensure that these technologies are easy to understand and intuitive to operate.

Adaptive Cruise Control allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles. 

Adaptive Cruise Control also integrates Collision Warning with Brake Support, a new active safety feature.

The collision warning system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual ?heads-up? warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead.  The system also pre-charges the brakes and engages an electronic brake assist to help the driver stop more quickly.

Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, a new Taurus feature, allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by simply carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.

SecuriCode? Keyless Entry Keypad enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver?s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver?s side B-pillar.

MyKey? allows parents or fleet administrators to activate a restricted driving mode. 

When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder^® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac^® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning.  Additional programmability includes restrictions on audio volume, limiting top speed to 80 mph and speed chime warnings at 45, 55, or 65mph.

Auto High Beams/Rain-Sensing Wipers harness sensor technologies to switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected, in a range of up to 500 feet for taillight detection, and up to 2,000 feet for oncoming headlight detection.  Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed. 

Easy Fuel? Capless Fuel Filler System is an industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel.  When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror. 

Cross Traffic Alert uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot.  This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.

Ford SYNC^® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion.  SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs.  SYNC?s 911 Assist? will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident.  The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.

Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link? uses an 8-inch screen to present a birds-eye-view map with 3D landmarks.  The system responds to voice commands for destination programming and route selection. 

In addition, it provides enhanced route guidance features such as street name announcements and detailed freeway exit, turn and ramp position lane guidance.  The screen can be personalized with up to 32 pictures, sized up to 1.5MB.  The system also incorporates the SIRIUS Travel Link, offering availability of current weather and ski conditions, a five-day forecast, local fuel pricing by cost per gallon as well as brand, sports scores and movie listings.

Sony^® branded audio components deliver sound from a variety of sources, with an AM-FM tuner, SIRIUS Satellite radio, CD, DVD audio and an integrated 10 GB hard drive for storage of up to 2,400 songs.  This package also includes an available 10-speaker premium audio system.

Multi-Contour Seats are available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, integrating a six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage.  The bottom cushion features Active Motion.   

This provides minute but continuous movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain. 

?Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble,? said Steve Michell, product design engineer.  ?The key is their subtlety.  Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.?

Safety leadership grows

The new 2010 Taurus builds on its legacy of safety leadership, incorporating a comprehensive array of passive and active features engineered to protect and preserve its passengers.  

?A stiffer body structure and new crash avoidance technologies make the Taurus ? already named the safest full-size sedan ? even safer,? said Reyes, chief engineer.

Taurus safety begins with a body structure optimized for strength and stiffness.  The energy-absorbing front structure features octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and ?shotgun? front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

The Taurus body structure features ultra high-strength boron steel in the B-pillar for added side impact protection.

The new Taurus is equipped with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy^®, a Ford exclusive protection system that features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes. 

Other key safety features include:

Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE?) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle.  In the event of a side impact, the beam helps divert crash forces away from the occupants.  A strong roof cross member and side impact door beams work with the floor-mounted tube to further improve side impact protection.

Personal Safety System^® is designed to reduce the risk of injury to the driver and front seat passenger in the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision.  Sensors note right front occupant weight, safety belt usage, outboard seat belt tension and seating position to optimize air bag deployment force for occupant safety.

AdvanceTrac^® electronic stability control predicts the vehicle?s intended path, using sensors to detect and measure oversteer and yaw, while continuously monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle.  When the system senses a loss of wheel traction, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied in conjunction with the standard Anti-lock Braking (ABS) system.  The system also incorporates traction control to aid drivers when operating the vehicle on loose or slippery surfaces.

SOS Post-Crash Alert is an integrated system that automatically unlocks the doors, sounds the horn and activates the emergency flashers in the event of an air bag deployment.

?Customers will find a lot to love about the new Taurus,? Fields said. 

The 2010 Ford Taurus will be built at Ford?s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be available in dealer showrooms in the summer. 

#  #  #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.ford.com.

January, 2009

FORD'S F-SERIES REIGNS AS AMERICA'S BEST-SELLING TRUCK AND BEST-SELLING VEHICLE IN 2008
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5, 2009 ? The beat goes on. For the 32nd year in a row, Ford's award-winning F-Series is America's best-selling truck with 2008 sales of 515,513. F-series outsold its nearest truck rival by more than 50,000 units.

In addition, for the 27th year in a row, F-Series is once again America's best-selling vehicle of any type ? car, crossover, SUV, truck or van.

"Our thanks go out to our customers, our dealers and, of course, the Ford employees and supplier partners who design, engineer and manufacture quality, fuel-efficient trucks delivering unmatched capability," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "The all-new F-150 affirms what Ford has known for years ? that listening to customers provides the best rewards."

The all-new F-150 recently was named 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year?, Texas Auto Writers Association Truck of Texas, and is a finalist for the 2009 North American Truck of the Year.

The 2009 F-150, new inside and out, is the new benchmark for full size pickups, appealing to a growing number of core truck customers. During the past five years, the "core trucker" ? those who use their truck's towing and hauling capability for work and play ? has grown to 40 percent from 30 percent of the light-duty full-size pickup market.

In the commercial/fleet portion of this core trucker sub-segment, Ford F-Series continues to dominate. The F-150 has 46 percent of the light duty commercial/fleet market; and Super Duty is stronger still with over 57 percent of heavy duty commercial/fleet market.

2009 F-150 improvements include a new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis that delivers even more horsepower, unsurpassed fuel economy and class-leading towing and payload capacity.

From industry-first SYNC to Ford Work Solutions, 2009 F-150 sports an array of smart technologies. SYNC provides hands-free, in-car communication. Ford Work Solutions is an innovative suite of options including an in-dash computer with Internet access, Tool Link to track tools, Crew Chief technology to dispatch workers and reduce vehicle operating costs and Cable Lock to improve security of tools and equipment.

F-150 also features conveniences such as the Box Side Step and Tailgate Step that help customers easily gain access to the truck's pickup box.

The new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds ? a combination no other competitor can match.

For 2009, F-150 also has improved its fuel economy by an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup, thanks to a wide range of engineering enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume three-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine. Plus, the F-150's SFE package ? which is available on highest-volume XL and XLT series ? delivers unsurpassed fuel economy of 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

The new 2009 F-150 is built at Ford's Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant.
The 2009 Ford F-150 has won the following awards and accolades:

• Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award?
• Top honors as "Truck of Texas" as well as "Best Luxury Pickup" for the 2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
• Finalist 2009 North American Truck of the Year (with 2009 Ford Flex for Car of the Year)
• 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com
• "Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup" from PickupTrucks.com
• "Automotive Excellence" award in the Workhorse Category from Popular Mechanics
• Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
• Detroit News Truck of the Year
• "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its standard safety technology: Safety Canopy side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
• "Residual Value" award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG projections
• Motor Trend's Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept
• "Accessory-Friendly Truck" Design Award from SEMA

All-new FORD Fusion hybrid IS NOW America's most fuel-efficient mid-size car

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 23, 2008 ? The all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now officially America's most fuel efficient mid-size car with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

"The new Ford Fusion Hybrid not only significantly exceeds the competition but also embodies Ford's 100 percent commitment to fuel efficiency leadership, quality, innovation and advanced technology," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development.  "The Ford team set the bar high ? to develop America's most fuel efficient mid-size sedan ? and that's what they delivered."

The 2010 Ford Fusion's final fuel economy certification was completed this week at Ford's testing laboratories in Allen Park, Mich., and the vehicle will carry an EPA label of 41 mpg for city driving and 36 mpg on the highway when it goes on sale this spring.  The Fusion Hybrid,  which beats even the much smaller Honda Civic hybrid by 1 mpg in city driving, can travel more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

To deliver the class leading fuel economy performance, Ford's engineers spent the past three years developing in-house the vehicle's next-generation hybrid propulsion system.  It allows the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid to travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, faster than the Toyota Camry and all other hybrids currently on the road.  In addition, the system's Advanced Intake Variable Cam Timing allows the Fusion and Milan hybrids to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa.

"The Fusion Hybrid's ability to run at a much higher speed in electric mode allows drivers to maximize fuel efficiency in many driving situations," said Praveen Cherian, Fusion Hybrid program leader.  "For example, this would allow drivers to travel around their subdivision and parking areas in all-electric mode."

Fusion's advanced hybrid system features:

·       Smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford's previous hybrid system.  The battery's improved chemistry allows it to be run at a higher temperature and cooled using cabin air.

·       New 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (155 horsepower / 136 lb.-ft. of torque), which is mated to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

·       Enhanced electronic throttle control, which reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.

·       Smart climate control system, which monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin.  It also includes an electric air conditioning compressor to further minimize engine use.

·       Regenerative brake system, which captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it.  Nearly 94 percent energy recovery is achieved by delivering full regenerative braking, which means only 6 percent of braking is through traditional friction brakes

SmartGauge Teaches Eco-Driving

The new Fusion Hybrid literally teaches drivers how to make the most out of their vehicle, thanks to Ford's SmartGauge with EcoGuide.  SmartGauge is a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide features two, high-resolution, full-color liquid crystal display screens on either side of the vehicle's speedometer.  The screens can be configured to show different levels of driver information, including fuel and battery power levels, and average and instant miles-per-gallon. 

When set in tutorial mode, the instrument panel "grows" leaves and vines on-screen to reward fuel-efficient driving.  The more leaves and vines that appear, the more efficient the driving behavior is and the more fuel is being saved.  In some recent tests, automotive journalists have reported exceeding 50 mpg with the Fusion Hybrid.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid also is distinct on the outside with Ford's "road and leaf" badges on both sides and the rear, unique 17-inch, eight-spoke wheels, and a unique engine cover.  On the inside, Fusion Hybrid features eco-friendly seat fabric made from post-industrial 100 percent recycled materials and a standard 110-volt power outlet.

Fusion Gasoline Model Also a Fuel Leader

In addition to the hybrid, Fusion will be offered with three fuel-efficient gasoline engines ? the Duratec 2.5-liter I-4 and enhanced 3.0-liter flex-fuel V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engines.  Fusions equipped with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine are expected to deliver at least 3 mpg better on the highway than the Honda Accord and 2 mpg better than the Toyota Camry.

The new Fusion will be building off the strong quality reputation of the current model, which has gained important third-party accolades, and will offer class-exclusive features, including Ford SYNC?, SIRIUS® TravelLink?, BLIS? (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert and Sony-branded audio.

In addition to the Fusion, several other Ford vehicles are fuel-economy standouts on the road today.  They include:

• The Ford Focus with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission delivers 35 mpg on the highway, 5 mpg better than the Toyota Corolla's 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 2 mpg better than the Honda Fit's 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, both also with manual transmissions.

• The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 ? which just recently was named Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year ? achieves 3 mpg more than the Toyota Tundra pickup on the highway and 1 mpg better in the city with its 4.6-liter V-8 engine, compared to Toyota's 4.7-liter V-8.  The F-150's larger 5.4-liter V-8 achieves 2 mpg better on the highway than the Tundra's larger engine.

• The 2009 Ford Escape with new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine achieves 28 mpg on the highway, the same as Toyota's RAV4 and 1 mpg better than the Honda CR-V, both with 4-cylinder engines, too.

• The Ford Expedition achieves 20 mpg on the highway, beating Toyota Sequoia's 4.7-liter V-8 engine by 3 mpg and its 5.7-liter V-8 by 1 mpg.

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About Ford Motor Company:

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 19, 2008 ? Ford Motor Company said today that it welcomes action by the Administration to provide emergency funding for General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.   

?As we told Congress, Ford is in a different position.  We do not face a near-term liquidity issue, and we are not seeking short-term financial assistance from the government,? Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said.  ?But all of us at Ford appreciate the prudent step the Administration has taken to address the near-term liquidity issues of GM and Chrysler.  The U.S. auto industry is highly interdependent, and a failure of one of our competitors would have a ripple effect that could jeopardize millions of jobs and further damage the already weakened U.S. economy.?

Ford recently submitted to Congress its comprehensive business plan, which details the company?s plan to return to pre-tax Automotive profitability by 2011.   In the plan, Ford said the transformation of its North American automotive business will continue to accelerate through aggressive restructuring actions and the introduction of more high-quality, safe and fuel-efficient vehicles ? including a broader range of hybrid-electric vehicles and the introduction of advanced plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles. 

?Ford has a comprehensive transformation plan that will ensure our future viability ? as evidenced by our profitability in the first quarter of 2008,? Mulally said.  ?While we clearly still have much more work to do, I am more convinced than ever that we have the right plan that will create a viable Ford going forward and position us for profitable growth.?

Ford is asking for access to a line of credit of up to $9 billion in bridge financing, but reiterated that it hopes to complete its transformation without accessing a government loan. 

?For Ford, a line of credit would serve only as a critical backstop or safeguard against worsening conditions, as we drive transformational change in our company,? Mulally said.

Ford reiterated that it is continuing aggressive actions to reduce costs and improve Automotive gross cash to fund its product-led transformation plan, despite the continued weakness in the global automotive market and economic environment.  Ford said it is more committed than ever to deliver more of the safe, affordable, high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles that consumers want and value.  The company?s plans include:

·      Delivering best-in-class or among the best fuel economy with every new vehicle introduced.

·      Investing approximately $14 billion in the U.S. on advanced technologies and products to improve fuel efficiency during the next seven years.

·      Introducing industry-leading, fuel-saving EcoBoost engines on today?s vehicles for up to 20 percent better fuel economy and up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.

·      Bringing to market by 2012 a family of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles. 

·      Upgrading the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury lineup in North America almost completely by the end of 2010.

·      Bringing six European small vehicles from global B-car and C-car platforms to be built in Ford?s North America plants.  

·      Retooling three North American truck plants to produce small, fuel efficient vehicles.

·      Building on vehicle quality that is now on par with Honda and Toyota ? and that consistently is being recognized by important third-parties like J.D. Power and Associates? Initial Quality Study ? driven by Ford?s disciplined and standardized processes for every product.

·      Building on vehicle safety leadership ? with the most U.S. government 5-star safety ratings of any auto company and recently moving past Honda for the industry?s most IIHS ?Top Safety Picks? ? plus new smart safety features, such as the industry-first MyKey technology that limits top speed and audio volume for teens and the first forward crash-avoidance system for mainstream vehicles.

·      Supporting Ford?s products with a lean, flexible global manufacturing system on par with leading Japanese and European facilities.

To read Ford?s submission to the U.S. Congress and for more information about Ford?s plan, please visit www.thefordstory.com.

Greensboro, GA
December 1, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Smith Ford Opens Dealership in Greensboro

Smith Ford of Crawford has opened its dealership in downtown Greensboro at the site of the former Johnson Ford Sales on 1191 East Broad Street.  The sales office of the dealership is fully operational, with an inventory of more than 40 new and used late model cars and trucks.  Its phone number is the same as the location has had since inception: 706-453-7500.

The operation will be managed by Bill Byrd, a longtime resident of Greene County.  Bill began his automotive career in 1985 with Johnson Ford and moved up the ranks to become General Manager of Smith Ford in Crawford when it purchased Johnson Ford in June of this year.  Bill will be joined by John Dunn and Jerry Fowler, both of whom will handle sales and financing at the dealership.  The new location is affiliated with H.M. Smith Ford, Inc. of Warrenton.  The three dealerships will operate under the ?Smith Ford? banner, with the new entity known as ?Smith Ford of Greensboro.?

In discussing the importance of the store?s opening, Byrd said, ?I am so pleased to have this office open.  We now have three stores within a 35-mile radius of Greensboro, furthering our strategy of consolidating many small town dealerships into one organization.  We know our customers want to deal with local sales people in a friendly, peaceful environment without the high pressure sales tactics of big-city dealerships, but they still want a large selection of vehicles.  Now we can offer both.  We will still have the same familiar sales personnel, but with a huge inventory selection of new and used cars and trucks.  Importantly, with our state-of-the-art technology, customers can sit with sales personnel at any of our locations and view videos, pictures and descriptions of all of our vehicles in every town.  If they like the vehicle, it will be delivered to them within an hour to inspect and test drive, thereby saving the customer from the time and aggravation of having to visit so many dealerships.  Also, our customers will be able to view all of our cars and trucks from the comfort of their home via our new interactive website, www.SmithFordNow.com.  Because of our several locations and increased inventory, we will be able to draw buyers from a much broader geographical area.?

Byrd further commented, ?This type of consolidation is critically important to small dealerships.  Multiple locations give us distinct advantages in the marketplace.  Our increased inventory and Internet presence have leveled the playing field between us and large metropolitan dealerships.?  He also said that the dealership plans to open its parts and service operations in January.

The dealerships are owned by Capstone Auto Group, Inc., an affiliate of Capstone Financial Group, Inc., a diversified investment banking firm based in Hilton Head, SC.  Dan Smith, a former resident of Warrenton who still has relatives in Arnoldsville, is the founder and President of both Capstone firms.  Regarding the completed deal, he commented, "Other than a new name and more inventory, the deal will be mostly transparent to the community.  Our customers will still see Bill Byrd and the dealership?s great sales personnel that have been familiar to the community for many, many years.  Each of them, though, will now have the resources of a larger organization."                                                        

For more information about this transaction, please contact:

Mike Nelson (mnelson@capfg.com)
Capstone Financial Group, Inc.
11 Palmetto Parkway, Suite 104
Hilton Head, SC 29926
843.689.6450 X4

Crawford, GA
June 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
Johnson Ford Sales Purchased by Smith Ford Affiliate

Johnson Ford Sales in Crawford has been purchased by the parent company of H.M. Smith Ford, Inc. of Warrenton.  The deal also includes the purchase of Johnson's location in Greensboro, which was closed two years ago and is tentatively scheduled to be reopened in 90 days.  The three dealerships will operate under the "Smith Ford" banner, with the local entity now known as "Smith Ford of Crawford."

The dealerships are majority owned by Capstone Auto Group, Inc., an affiliate of Capstone Financial Group, Inc., a diversified investment banking firm based in Hilton Head, SC.  Dan Smith, a former resident of Warrenton who still has relatives in Arnoldsville, is the founder and President of both Capstone firms.  Regarding the completed deal, he commented, "I am so pleased to have finalized this transaction with my friend Darryl Johnson. Our dads knew each other very well, and I am excited to have the opportunity to combine forces with Darryl."

"Our purchase of Johnson Ford is the next step in our strategy of consolidating many small town dealerships into one organization," Smith said.  "We have found that our customers want to deal with local sales people in a friendly, peaceful environment without the high pressure sales tactics of big-city dealerships, but they still want a large selection of vehicles.  Now we can offer both.  We will still have the same familiar sales personnel, but with a huge inventory selection of new and used cars and trucks.  Importantly, with our state-of-the-art technology, customers can sit with sales personnel at any of our locations and view videos, pictures and descriptions of all of our vehicles in every town.  If they like the vehicle, it will be delivered to them within an hour to inspect and test drive, thereby saving the customer from the time and aggravation of having to visit so many dealerships.  Also, our customers will be able to view all of our cars and trucks from the comfort of their home via our new web site, www.SmithFordNow.com.  Because of our several locations and increased inventory, we will be able to draw buyers from a much broader geographical area.  This same concept also applies to our selection of Parts and Accessories.  Our customers will see a much larger inventory of these items as well."

Smith further stated, "Other than a new name and more inventory, the deal will be mostly transparent to the community.  Our customers will still see Darryl, Nikki, Bill Byrd, and the dealership's great sales and management personnel, 9 of whom have been employed there for more than 10 years, and 5 of them for more than 20 years!  Each of them, though, will now have the resources of a larger organization."

In summing up the importance of the deal, Darryl Johnson said, "This type of consolidation is critically important to small dealerships.  Multiple locations give us distinct advantages in the marketplace.  Our increased inventory and Internet presence have leveled the playing field between us and large metropolitan dealerships."

The histories of the two dealerships are both long and remarkably similar. Johnson Ford Sales was founded in Crawford by Alfred A. Johnson in July 1963.  Smith Ford was founded in Warrenton by H.M. Smith in April 1966, making the dealerships two of the oldest in Georgia that have remained under continuing family ownership.  Johnson's Greensboro location was opened in September 1993.  Alfred Johnson's son, Darryl, took control of the company in 1996.  H.M. Smith's son, Dan, took control of that dealership in 2003.                               

For more information about this transaction, please contact:

Mike Nelson (mnelson@capfg.com) or Dan Smith (dsmith@capfg.com)
Capstone Financial Group, Inc.
11 Palmetto Parkway, Suite 104
Hilton Head, SC 29926
843.689.6450