All-New Ford Focus Named Official Car of 2011 International CES

November 15th, 2010

focusALL-NEW, HIGH-TECH 2012 FORD FOCUS IS NAMED OFFICIAL CAR OF THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL CES
2012 Ford Focus

The new Ford Focus will be the official car of the 2011 International CES held on Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. The all-new Focus is an ideal matchup for CES; demonstrating that high-end, high-demand tech features such as Ford SYNC, MyFord Touch, HD Radio, and in-car Wi-Fi capability can be expertly blended into a fun-to-drive car expected to deliver 40 mpg on the highway. Focus four-door sedan and sporty five-door hatchback models are set to go on sale in early 2011

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 9, 2010 – With its global launch near, the all-new Ford Focus takes on the role of official vehicle for the 2011 International CES, considered the largest technology trade show in the world.

The tech-packed Focus is a perfect match for CES, which runs from Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. As the official car, Focus will have a prominent presence during the show, including more product-specific signage, displays, demonstrations and materials. Focus follows in the footsteps of the 2010 Ford Taurus, which was the official car at the 2010 CES held earlier this year.

“The all-new Focus harnesses the best of what Ford Motor Company has to offer, delivering class-leading features and technologies as well as an expected 40 mpg,” said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Company. “We’re excited for Focus to reach dealers in North America and Europe in early 2011 and want to share that excitement and the unprecedented level of technology Focus has to offer with the global consumer electronics industry – an increasingly important influence on new vehicles.”

The new Focus will share the spotlight at CES with Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, who will deliver a keynote address at the trade show for the third consecutive year. Further upping the ante at CES, Ford is also increasing its display’s floor space fourfold for the 2011 show and expects to have more than twenty vehicles on display throughout the event.

“We welcome Ford, Alan Mulally and the new Focus to the 2011 International CES,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), producer of the International CES. “Vehicles such as the Focus are built with the latest technologies that address consumer demand for on-the-go innovations.”

Chockfull of tech
Studies by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) show that as many as 77 million adults make up the so-called technology enthusiast drivers population, more than half of whom express the desire for a connected communications and information system in their vehicles.

The all-new Focus features Ford SYNC, MyFord Touch driver connect technology, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, Sony Audio with HD Radio and Active Park Assist, among other advanced technologies more often associated with larger, premium vehicle segments.

For avid in-car tech lovers, Focus with MyFord Touch will feature a Wi-Fi radio that will provide Internet access when a compatible USB mobile broadband modem is inserted into SYNC’s USB port producing a secure wireless “hot spot” that will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. This secure connection will allow passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices to access the web while on the go.

Tech enthusiasts as well as music lovers also will appreciate that Focus will be the first car in its class available with an audio system supplied by global consumer electronics leader Sony®. Featuring a class D digital amplifier developed specifically for Focus, this system has 10 speakers, three-layer soft dome tweeters and a subwoofer offering up 355 watts of continuous power. Coupled with MyFord Touch, the Focus audio system also features HD Radio technology with iTunes Tagging – also a first in its class.

“Customers want smaller cars with outstanding fuel economy, but without sacrificing any of the style, technology, connectivity and driving quality they demand from larger vehicles,” said Czubay. “With the all-new Focus leading the pack, our next-generation of smaller cars and utilities will prove that Ford is ready to meet that challenge.”

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 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Article http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33535

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More Power for 2011 Ford Diesel

August 4th, 2010

The 2011MY Super Duty is off to a phenomenal start, with total retail sales and market share exceeding objectives. This truck is a homerun! Well, the best heavy-duty truck in the segment is about to get better! We are thrilled to announce performance, fuel economy, and capability enhancements to the new 2011MY Super Duty. These enhancements are a credit to the continuous improvement and testing efforts of our Engineering and Manufacturing teams. We know customers value power, capability, fuel economy and durability, and we moved quickly to bring these enhancements into the market place.

In addition, we are announcing a new, first-ever Customer Satisfaction Program – 10B17 to provide the same horse power, torque and fuel economy upgrades for customers that have already purchased or leased a 2011 Super Duty pickup with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel.

Attached are the press releases sent to media today. Here are the details:

Performance/Capability Enhancements

The Ford built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbo diesel, already praised by customers and journalists for its power, quietness, and fuel economy will raise the bar even higher. The result of additional durability and capability testing, the new 6.7L Power Stroke® diesel will now be rated at best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower, an increase of 65 lb.-ft. of torque and 10 horsepower compared to when the all-new Ford-engineered and Ford-built engine went on sale earlier this year. The 6.7L Power Stroke® diesel’s best-in-class fuel economy will be improved as well – now 20% better than the outgoing pickup models (vs. 18% at launch). Production at Kentucky Truck Plant with these performance upgrades will begin on August 5th.
Starting with production on August 9th, one of the heavy haulers in the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup – the F-350 Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) – will add vehicle upgrades that will bring maximum payload and maximum fifth-wheel towing to best-in-class levels. Higher-strength steel in the frame will boost the payload and towing ratings as follows:
F-350 DRW maximum payload to 7,070 pounds, from 6,520 pounds
F-350 DRW maximum fifth-wheel towing to 22,600 pounds, from 21,600 pounds
Customer Satisfaction Initiative

Super Duty has more loyal owners than any truck in the heavy duty segment and many of these customers have already purchased a new 2011 Super Duty pickup. We understand the importance of these customers! With this in mind, we are pleased to announce we will be offering a first-ever, no-charge horsepower and torque upgrade Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17 to all owners that have purchased or leased a new 2011MY Super Duty pickup with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbo diesel. Here are some high level details:

SERVICE ACTION: It is anticipated that Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17 will be provided to dealers by August 31, 2010, once the IDS service release is available. Dealers will then be able to reprogram the PCM and TCM to the latest calibration.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION: Owners of affected vehicles will be notified approximately one to two weeks after the release of Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17.
OASIS AND FSA VIN LISTS: OASIS will be activated when Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17 is released to identify the affected vehicles. FSA VIN Lists will also be available to identify vehicles assigned to individual dealerships. Owner names and addresses will be available after the customer notification.
STOCK VEHICLES: Dealers are strongly encouraged to begin updating their affected in-stock vehicles once Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17 is released.
A more detailed communication of Customer Satisfaction Program 10B17 will be sent out later this month.

Please note, due to hardware changes, there are no plans to upgrade the payload and towing capability of 2011MY F-350 DRW’s already sold to customers or in dealer stock. Only F-350 DRW units built after August 9th will receive this additional capability.

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Ford Sales up again!!

August 3rd, 2010

FORD’S JULY SALES UP 5%; DEMAND FOR HIGH-QUALITY, FUEL-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS CONTINUES DRIVING GROWTH

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury July sales totaled 166,092, up 5 percent versus strong year-ago sales; year-to-date sales up 24 percent
Fiesta eclipses 3,000 sales in its second month in America
New 2011 F-Series Super Duty and Mustang continue impressive starts; Super Duty sales up 63 percent in July versus year ago; Mustang retail sales increased 43 percent year over year
Last year’s new products also post sales gains; Fusion nearly matches last July’s sales record, Taurus sales up 187 percent, and Transit Connect posts best sales month ever
Ford’s retail market share appears to have increased for the 21st time in 22 months as buyers turn to Ford’s fresh lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 3, 2010 – Ford’s newest vehicles helped the company continue to grow as Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers delivered 166,092 new vehicles in July – a 5 percent increase versus a year ago, when “Cash for Clunker” sales started to surge.

Year-to-date sales totaled 1.12 million, up 24 percent, with growth across Ford’s full family of cars (up 21 percent), utilities (up 19 percent) and trucks (up 32 percent).

“Customers are rewarding Ford for providing the performance they want and the fuel economy they need,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “New class-leading powertrains are the ‘secret weapon’ in every new product we are bringing to market.”

The Ford Fiesta, which offers 40 miles per gallon EPA highway fuel economy, eclipsed 3,000 sales in its second month in America and has been well-received by California customers. Highly acclaimed in Europe, Asia, and North America, the Fiesta is the first car developed under the ONE Ford global product development system.

Sales for the 2011 F-Series Super Duty were 63 percent higher than a year ago, capturing more than 50 percent of the heavy duty pickup segment. Ford announced today it will begin production of the most powerful diesel engine ever installed in a heavy-duty pickup (best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower). In addition, the Super Duty’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel will provide improved fuel economy – a full 20 percent better fuel efficiency than the 2010 model.

“In an industry-first customer loyalty program, Ford will provide the power upgrades free of charge to all current owners of a 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup,” said Czubay.

Retail sales for the Mustang were 43 percent higher than a year ago. Since the arrival of the 2011 model featuring new V-6 and V-8 engines with more horsepower and improved fuel economy, Mustang’s share has climbed to levels not seen since January 2009.

“With our broad range of products – from Fiesta to Super Duty – Ford is connecting with consumers,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Ford and its dealers continue to offer customers the strongest value proposition in the industry – class-leading fuel economy, quality and growing resale values.”

In July, Ford retail sales were up 5 percent versus a year ago, and Ford appears to have gained retail market share for the 21st time in the last 22 months. Fleet sales were up 2 percent, reflecting higher sales of Ford’s hard-working trucks to commercial customers.

Other Sales Highlights

Demand for the Ford Fusion, Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, remains strong as sales of 17,406 nearly matched last July’s sales record. Ford Taurus sales totaled 5,046 in July, up 187 percent.
With sales of 50,449, Ford’s F-Series posted a 39 percent sales increase in July. It was the first time since March 2008 that F-Series sales eclipsed 50,000. Year-to-date, F-Series sales totaled 290,794, up 35 percent.
Ford Edge set a July record with sales of 9,342, up 19 percent versus a year ago. The redesigned 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX now are in production, featuring new powertrains and MyFord and MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology.
Lincoln retail sales were up 7 percent versus a year ago with higher retail sales for the Lincoln MKZ sedan, Lincoln MKT crossover and Lincoln Navigator sport utility. Soon, Lincoln will offer a hybrid version of the Lincoln MKZ at the same price as the gas version, making the MKZ the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle in America.
# # #

Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

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 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

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Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s going to DC – No way – I hope!

July 8th, 2010

No one’s talking — at least not publicly — about the possibility of a cabinet post someday, and Mulally himself certainly hasn’t suggested he’s interested in anything of the sort.
But Ford’s turnaround under Mulally’s watch — a $2.1-billion profit in the first quarter, its increasing market share and its bold decision to pay off about $4 billion of its debts last week (all without government help) — has gone far from unnoticed in Washington.
Last week, Mulally was at the White House, he and four other CEOs taking advantage of nice weather for an al fresco luncheon with President Barack Obama. And on Wednesday, he was announced as one of 18 new members of the President’s Export Council, which is expected to come up with ways of doubling U.S. exports in five years.
Robert Litan, who has done stints with the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Justice Department and is now a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, says Mulally has shown “the kind of skills that could be useful in a future Commerce or Energy secretary,” if he — and a current or future president — were inclined to give it a go.

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Survey finds Ford is Top Auto Brand!

June 14th, 2010

Kathy Jackson
Automotive News

LOS ANGELES — Ford is riding sky high in terms of consumer perception, according to a market research firm that tracks how Americans view consumer brands.

Toyota took a huge fall in BrandIndex’s survey of consumer sentiment after its recall crisis this year. It still is dead last among auto brands, but it has started to make a comeback.

New York-based BrandIndex surveys 5,000 consumers daily on their opinions of more than 1,100 brands. It rates brands on a scale from minus 100 to 100. Zero means equal positive and negative perceptions. Generally, the highest score is around 60.

Last week, Ford’s score of 40 was tops among all auto brands in the survey. Chevrolet was second at 22, and Honda was third at 20.

With a score of minus 14, Toyota trailed all other auto brands. But that’s a vast improvement from the minus 50 BrandIndex reported for Toyota on Feb. 4, just as the recall scandal was exploding.

Prior to June 2009, Toyota was consistently No. 1 among car brands, says Ted Marzilli, global managing director of the research firm. It peaked with a score of 44 in July 2008.

“The U.S. industry had been maligned for so long, but Toyota has tossed out the notion that the Japanese are superior,” Marzilli says. “Ford caught up with Toyota in January 2010, when Toyota fell off the cliff. Honda suffered a little bit, probably due to the negative effect on Japanese makers because of Toyota.”

Toyota is slowly climbing back, rising from a minus 24 in early May to minus 14 on May 31. But some Detroit 3 brands are improving, too. Cadillac went from a score of eight in early May to 15.6 on May 31. Buick rose to its best score ever — 14.6 — as of May 31, from eight in early May.

“Toyota still is in a negative position, and that’s not a good place to be,” Marzilli says. “They stumbled and proved they’re human. That has benefited everyone, particularly the non-Japanese. The U.S automakers, led by Ford, have been on an upward trajectory for most of the year.”

Sales results back up the brand perception. Toyota was the brand sales leader in 2009 for the second year in a row. But through the first five months of this year, No. 1 Ford’s sales have soared 34 percent to 703,327 — leading third-place Toyota by 104,749 units. Chevrolet, at No. 2, is up 31 percent and leads Toyota by 41,403 units. Toyota’s sales were up 10 percent.

Says Marzilli: “I believe it will be three to six months before Toyota gets into the positive category and two years before it maybe can get back to where it was.”

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Ford Motor Company is doing well!

June 2nd, 2010

Ford’s U.S. May Sales Up 23 Percent; Sixth Straight Month Ford Sales Increase More Than 20 Percent

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury May sales totaled 192,253, up 23 percent versus year ago.
All-new Super Duty powers F-Series pickup to its highest sales month in more than two years; Super Duty sales up 82 percent versus year ago; total F-Series sales up 49 percent
Record May sales for Ford Fusion and Edge; best month yet for Transit Connect. Mustang’s May retail share increase is powered by 2011 models, which deliver even more horsepower and fuel economy
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury year-to-date sales totaled 783,845, up 31 percent versus year ago
Ford gains retail market share for the 19th time in the last 20 months, as more buyers turn to Ford’s fresh lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles
Ford announces plans to build 570,000 vehicles in the third quarter, up 80,000 vehicles (16 percent) versus third quarter 2009; second quarter plan increased by 15,000 vehicles
DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2010 – Ford continued to post strong sales and market share gains in May, with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers delivering 192,253 new vehicles in May – a 23 percent increase versus a year ago. It marks the sixth month in a row Ford sales have increased more than 20 percent. Year-to-date sales totaled 783,845, up 31 percent.

In May, Ford retail sales were up 19 percent versus a year ago, and Ford gained retail market share for the 19th time in the last 20 months. Fleet sales were up 32 percent, primarily reflecting higher sales of Ford’s hard-working trucks to commercial customers.

Ford is benefiting from a fresh lineup of new, fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles that deliver industry-leading levels of safety as well as smart design and value.

“Our laser focus on fuel efficiency and quality is paying off for our customers and for Ford,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. “Our customers are rewarded because Ford resale values continue to increase at a rate higher than the overall industry – and they are rewarding us with increased purchase consideration.”

In April, year-over-year resale values of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles outpaced the industry. Resale values improved 24 percent for Ford versus 19 percent for the industry, based on auction data compiled by the North American Dealers Association (NADA). The margin of improvement was particularly strong on cars, where Ford improved seven points more than the industry average.

Ford also achieved the largest gain of any automaker in Automotive Lease Guide’s latest Perceived Quality Score, bringing customer perceptions more in line with Ford’s improved vehicle quality.

Strength Across the Lineup

Once again, sales were higher throughout Ford’s lineup in May – continuing a trend that began in December. Trucks paced the year-to-year results with a sales increase of 48 percent, while cars were up 9 percent, and utilities were up 18 percent. Year-to-date, car sales were up 29 percent, utilities were up 30 percent, and trucks were up 34 percent.

“Our results reflect Ford’s balanced portfolio of products,” said Czubay. “Our goal is to offer customers class-leading fuel efficiency, quality, safety, smart design and value in every product and category.”

Other sales highlights include:

Ford Fusion, Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, set a May sales record of 22,381, up 13 percent versus the previous record set last year. Fusion has set monthly sales records in 13 of the last 14 months, and sales have been up 14 months in a row.
Ford Taurus sales totaled 6,466 in May, up 98 percent. Ford Focus sales were up 13 percent.
Ford Mustang’s retail share is on the rise, boosted by the arrival of the new 2011 Mustang with new V-6 and V-8 engines that deliver more horsepower and improved fuel economy. The new 3.7-liter V-6 achieves 305 hp and is the first production car ever to achieve 300-plus horsepower and 30-plus highway miles per gallon. The new 5.0-liter V-8, offered on the Mustang GT, is at the top of its class with fuel economy of 26 mpg highway and delivers 412 hp. Mustang’s retail share in May was the highest for any month in a year.
With sales of 49,858, Ford’s F-Series posted a 49 percent sales increase in May. Year-to-date, F-Series sales are up 35 percent. Ford’s leadership position in the truck market is strengthened by the arrival of the 2011 model F-Series Super Duty – the most capable, fuel-efficient heavy-duty pickup in the industry. For the second month in a row, sales of the all-new 2011 Super Duty were more than double Ford’s plan for the month. Super Duty sales were up 82 percent versus a year ago. F-Series sales have increased six months in a row, and May’s increase was the largest.
Utility vehicles also posted strong sales increases. Ford Edge set a May sales record of 13,660, up 43 percent. Ford Escape sales were up 17 percent, and Mercury Mariner sales were up 22 percent. Ford Escape is America’s best-selling utility vehicle. Sales for the Ford Explorer and Expedition and Mercury Mountaineer also were higher than a year ago.
Sales for Ford’s E-Series van (Econoline/Club Wagon) were up 34 percent versus a year ago, and sales for the Transit Connect were the highest for any month so far.
North American Production

In the third quarter of 2010, Ford plans to produce 570,000 vehicles, up 80,000 vehicles (16 percent) versus the third quarter 2009. The increase reflects higher consumer demand across Ford’s entire family of cars, utilities and trucks. Ford’s second quarter production plan is 640,000 vehicles, up 15,000 vehicles from the prior forecast.

# # #

Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

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 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

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Subaru’s U.S. Sales Surge Spurs Fuji Heavy to Add Output, Jobs

May 11th, 2010


May 07, 2010, 4:22 PM EDT
By Alan Ohnsman and Makiko Kitamura
May 7 (Bloomberg) — Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the Toyota Motor Corp. affiliate that makes Subaru cars, will boost output at its Indiana plant for the fifth time in a year and hire more workers to meet surging U.S. demand.
Annual production capacity at the Lafayette factory should reach as many as 140,000 Subarus by year’s end, a 40 percent increase, Tom Easterday, the facility’s executive vice president, said today in an interview. The plant’s second line can build as many as 100,000 Toyota Camrys a year.
“I’ve been here 21 years, since it opened, and we’ve never had growth this phenomenal,” Easterday said. The plant, once a joint venture shared with Japanese truckmaker Isuzu Motors Ltd., should build a record 220,000 vehicles this year, he said.
Fuji Heavy, based in Tokyo, is taking advantage of a 41 percent jump in Subaru’s U.S. sales through April. The Lafayette plant used 95 percent of its capacity in 2010’s first quarter, up from 61 percent a year earlier, said Haig Stoddard, an analyst at consultant IHS Global Insight in Troy, Michigan.
“That increase is all due to Subarus,” Stoddard said. “Camry production was relatively flat with a year ago.”
Subaru of Indiana Automotive has added 200 workers, pushing employment to 3,326, with 40 more people still to be hired, Easterday said.
–Editors: Ed Dufner, John Lear

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Ford See’s a big gain in Sales

March 2nd, 2010

DETROIT (AP) — Ford posted a 43 percent jump in February U.S. auto sales and outsold General Motors for the first time in nearly a dozen years as it grabbed sales from struggling Toyota.

Ford Motor Co.’s sales surged thanks to strong demand for its cars and because it was able to grab some customers from Toyota Motor Corp., whose sales fell 9 percent due to a massive safety recall. Ford sold 334 more cars than GM in the U.S. for the first time since August 1998, when GM was in the midst of a strike.

Besides Ford and GM, other winners included Kia Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Even struggling Chrysler saw improvement.

February was the first full month since Toyota’s Jan. 26 decision to halt sales of eight popular models in the U.S. because of safety concerns. Those cars went on sale again as dealers repaired them, but Toyota’s image suffered from the recall of millions of vehicles and congressional hearings on its safety record. Analysts had expected Toyota to see a double-digit drop in sales for the month. The Japanese automaker jacked up incentive spending to lure buyers.

General Motors Co. reported an 11.5 percent increase, helped by new models and Toyota’s woes.

Susan Docherty, GM’s vice president of sales and marketing, said GM won over some Toyota buyers who left the Japanese carmaker due to the recalls. Chevrolet car sales to individuals rose 10 percent in February, an indication that GM it taking some of Toyota’s core market, she said.

“We feel we’re getting our fair share of the Toyota business,” she said.

Mike DiGiovanni, GM’s top sales analyst, said he expected that trend to continue into the spring.

Most carmakers offered deals to Toyota customers for trading in their vehicles. According to Edmunds, incentive spending rose 11 percent from January to $2,588 per vehicle. Toyota’s incentive spending rose 26 percent, to $1,833 per vehicle.

GM’s sales of its Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC brands climbed 32 percent. GM plans to keep those four brands and is phasing out Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer. It has sold Saab.

The industry was expecting to see gains over February 2009, which was one of the weakest months in a very depressed year. Sales over President’s Day weekend — which traditionally kicks off the spring selling season — were robust, according to the auto information site Edmunds.com.

Still, winter storms at the beginning and end of the month hurt sales on the East Coast and in the Midwest. GM said its sales dropped 22 percent in the Northeast region. The corridor from Boston to Washington typically accounts for about a quarter of the automaker’s U.S. sales.

“Three and a half feet of snow on these cars. It took our dealers a bit of time to get all that snow off here and get the customers back into the showrooms,” Docherty said.

DiGiovanni said sales probably would have been 5 percent higher had it not been for snowstorms. That means the gradual economic recovery is continuing despite setbacks in home sales, new home construction and unemployment, he said. Consumer confidence — which is measured by how much buyers spend — took an unexpected dive in February, indicating people are nervous about the economy.

Much of GM’s sales increase was due to demand for large new wagons such as the Chevrolet Equinox, which jumped 133 percent, and the Cadillac SRX, which saw sales more than quadruple. Those two models are the size of SUVs but are built on a car frame for better fuel economy.

Sales to rental car companies and other fleet buyers also were strong as companies began buying again after cutbacks last year. Fleet sales generally mean lower profits to automakers than retail sales to individuals.

Retail sales for GM’s four core brands edged up 7 percent.

Ford had expected sales to climb from last February, when U.S. sales plummeted in the midst of the recession. Its car sales climbed 54 percent as consumers continued to shop for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Like GM, Ford saw renewed demand from corporate fleet customers, which are buying again after weak sales in 2009. Ford’s fleet sales surged 74 percent over February of last year, while GM’s jumped 114 percent.

South Korea’s Kia Motors Corp. saw U.S. sales rise 9 percent on brisk demand for its Sorento and Soul, a boxy vehicle aimed at city dwellers. Japan’s Honda said sales rose 13 percent, lifted by its top-selling Accord sedan. Subaru reported a 38 percent jump.

Chrysler will report its first year-over-year monthly increase since December of 2007 when it releases numbers later Tuesday, according to a person briefed on the figures. The increase will only be a few hundred vehicles, but the person said it’s a sign that the company is starting to recover in the U.S. market. The person did not want to be identified because sales figures have not been released.

Surging sales of large wagons helped Japan’s Subaru, which said its February sales in the U.S. jumped 38 percent led by the Outback and Legacy sedan. Both vehicles got a redesign for the 2010 model year. Sales of its Forester SUV were up 6 percent.

AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this report. Strumpf reported from New York.

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2011 FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY LEADS HEAVY-DUTY

February 25th, 2010

2011 FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY LEADS HEAVY-DUTY
TRUCKS IN CAPABILITY, NOW FUEL ECONOMY, TOO

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 25, 2010 – The new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty delivers the most
heavy-duty truck horsepower. Top torque. Industry-best towing capability and payload. Fuel
economy leadership. In short, the new Super Duty delivers leadership in every feature that
matters to heavy-duty truck customers.
• The most capable heavy-duty pickup in America – the Ford F-Series Super Duty – also is the
most powerful and fuel-efficient for the 2011 model year, offering customers their choice of
either gas or diesel engines.
• Fuel economy on the all-new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty equipped with the 6.7-liter
Power Stroke® V-8 diesel engine averages an 18 percent improvement for pickup models and
up to 25 percent improvement for chassis cabs versus 2010 models. Trucks equipped with
new base 6.2-liter V-8 gas engines average a 15 percent improvement versus 2010 models
• The all-new Ford-engineered, Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8
turbocharged diesel engine has best-in-class torque of 735 ft.-lb. (at 1,600 rpm) and best-inclass
390 horsepower (at 2,800 rpm) – 85 ft.-lb. and 40 horsepower more than the outgoing
model – with best-in-class fuel economy; new engine is B20 biodiesel compatible, too
• All-new 6.2-liter V-8 gas engine is also best-in-class with 385 horsepower and 405 ft.-lb. of
torque – 85 more horsepower and 40 ft.-lb. of torque more than the current 5.4-liter V-8 gas
engine. It also delivers class-leading fuel economy and E85 compatibility
• All-new powertrains are the backbone of the new 2011 F-Series Super Duty, which has classleading
towing capability 26,400 pounds on chassis cabs and 24,400 pounds on pickups; bestin-class payload capability of 12,711 on chassis cabs and 6,520 pounds on pickups.

With Ford-built diesel and gas powertrains, the all-new Ford Super Duty dominates the
competition in payload, conventional towing, fifth-wheel towing and gross combined weight
rating in both pickups and chassis cabs. Diesel engines account for 65 percent of the Super Duty
sales, with gas engines making up the remaining 35 percent.
The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel – designed, engineered and built by
Ford – delivers class-leading fuel economy as well as best-in-class 390 horsepower and 735 ft.-
lb. of torque – that’s 75 ft.-lb. more than its nearest competitor in the market today. Plus, the new
Super Duty fuel economy improvement averages 18 percent better for pickup models and up to
25 percent for chassis cab versus the outgoing Super Duty.
Significantly improved torque – 85 ft.-lb. more than the current 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel – is
good news for the nearly 97 percent of Super Duty customers who tow and helps the 2011 Super
Duty deliver class-leading towing capability at 26,400 pounds with the F-550 chassis cab. The
2011 Super Duty also has class-leading payload capability at 6,520 pounds.
“Having best-in-class numbers is powerful, but the real payoff is how those numbers deliver for
our customers,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. “For 33 years, F-Series has
been the No. 1-seller in America because we listen to our customers. With Super Duty, they’ve
told us how they use their trucks to tow, and on the new truck, we focused on delivering best-inclass
towing capability for them with new powertrains that deliver best-in-class power and bestin-class fuel economy.”
Built to last, just the way customers like
During the Super Duty’s development, engineers put more than 10.3 million equivalent test
miles on the new diesel engine, including extreme road and weather conditions. The new Power
Stroke diesel is the most-tested Power Stroke ever, incorporating the most rigorous engine tests
found in Ford globally.

Extensive CAD (computer-aided design) and CAE (computer-aided engineering) work was
completed to identify any potential challenges before hardware was created, which not only is
time-efficient but also helps ensure quality at the outset. Customer data, including driving styles, road types and vehicle usage (towing and payload), also played a key role in developing the testing program that best replicated Super Duty use. Components were tested in the laboratory with a regimen designed to exceed what even the most
extreme-use customer might dish out. Engines literally ran continuously for hundreds of hours.
Engines were started in below-zero temperatures more than 2,600 times. Plus, laboratory tests
simulated 10 years of use in arctic conditions.
B20 compatibility added for 2011 model year
The strict testing work also ensured the new engine is B20 compatible, which allows customers
another fueling option that uses blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum
diesel. Because biodiesel fuel varies in quality in the U.S. and Canada, durability testing cycles
were run on multiple blends of the fuel to ensure the robustness of the system. This is especially
important to the agricultural industry, where biodiesel is often the preferred fuel.
“These tests give us the full spectrum of Super Duty customers – from those who run their trucks
at maximum power with a maximum load for long periods to those who use them more in a startstop
mode,” said Ed Waszczenko, lead engine durability engineer.
Finally, a battery of in-vehicle, real-world tests validated the work done in the laboratories. The
2011 F-450 Super Duty, for example, can tow a 24,400-pound trailer up a 6 percent grade at 47
mph, which is more than 50 percent faster than the outgoing product. The F-450 and F-550 have
no competitors in the marketplace.
“That’s the difference between trucks passing you, or you passing trucks,” said Chris Brewer,
Super Duty chief engineer.

Class-leading capability
Growing Super Duty’s heavy-truck leadership legacy, the 2011 F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks
have best-in-class conventional towing and payload capability. The F-250 and F-350 single-rearwheel
model can tow up to 14,000 pounds with payloads of 4,050 pounds and 4,600 pounds,
respectively.
In addition, the F-350 dual-rear-wheel model delivers best-in-class conventional towing of
16,000 pounds and fifth-wheel towing of 21,600 pounds as well as best-in-class payload of 6,520
pounds. With chassis cab sales accounting for up to 25 percent of the Super Duty mix, the
leadership towing capability of the F-550 fifth-wheel hitch is notable: 26,400 pounds.
The improved torque also enables the driver to hold a higher gear longer, which helps with
highway fuel economy. “This prevents transmission ‘gear hunting,’ and lets you stay in gear
longer before downshifting, ultimately saving fuel,” Brewer said.
Quietest Power Stroke ever
In addition to its capability, the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 has the lowest NVH (noise,
vibration and harshness) in the class with a notably quieter, more refined sound than ever.
Improvements to the combustion system, structural integrity of the compacted graphite iron
block and the single turbocharger mounted to the engine block account for many of the NVH
improvements. Specific design upgrades were made to both the piston and the piston bowl to optimize the
combustion process, which features a two-stage combustion event instead of a single-injection
event. Single-injection events can cause harsh, sudden and loud combustion. On the 2011 Super
Duty, a starter or pilot injection of fuel begins the combustion process before the main injection.
The result is smoother combustion and a more refined sound for the customer. When at idle, two
pilot injection events are used to make the firing process even smoother and aid in quietness.

The “ticking” of the high-speed injectors also is quieted by specially designed covers on the
engine. Mounting the turbocharger from the center housing directly to the block provided several
advantages as well in terms of NVH.
“When turbochargers vibrate, it can lead to other parts of the vehicle, such as the exhaust system,
vibrating,” said Adam Gryglak, chief diesel engineering manager. “So when the turbocharger
vibrates a lot, the exhaust system vibrates too, and that’s disturbing to the customer. Bolting the
turbocharger directly to the block eliminates that concern.”
Using one turbocharger, instead of two operating in series or sequentially, helped resolve some
NVH challenges as well. The single turbocharger eliminates air-handling noises – the whooshes
– typically heard when the engine switches from one turbo to the next. Also, the single
turbocharger has ball bearings that pilot the shaft in the turbo, eliminating the potential for the
shaft of the turbocharger to gyrate in its housing, another potential NVH issue.
Other improvements include the addition of two resonators in the intake system as well as a third
resonator near the air cleaner. These additions made it possible to tune the diesel intake system to
the desired sound.
New gas engine leads in torque, horsepower and fuel economy
The 2011 Super Duty features a new, more powerful and efficient standard gasoline engine that
also delivers class-leading numbers. The new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine produces 405 ft.-lb.
of torque (at 4,500 rpm) and 385 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) on regular gasoline. These numbers
represent an increase of 40 ft.-lb. of torque and 85 horsepower versus the current 5.4-liter V-8.
The new engine also is E85 compatible.
Already cementing its ‘Built Ford Tough’ status
Nearly all the components of the 2011 Super Duty 6.2-liter V-8 are shared with the 6.2-liter V-8
engine found in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck
versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures as well as daily commutes.

In November 2008, the 6.2-liter Raptor R not only survived its first grueling Baja 1000, it earned
a podium finish.
Testing on the 6.2-liter V-8 included running multiple engines for more than 500 hours at peak
torque and peak horsepower as well as customer-correlated 1,000-hour road load tests to ensure
dependability for even the toughest Ford F-Series Super Duty customer.
“Having two outstanding powertrains to choose from is a real win-win for Super Duty
customers,” said Doug Scott, truck group marketing manager. “Both Ford’s new diesel and new
gasoline engines deliver the ‘and solution’ – best-in-class horsepower, torque and fuel economy.
“Leadership in areas that matter most to customers will help ensure the 2011 Super Duty will
continue to be the undisputed leader in full-size pickup towing, payload and capability.”
# # #

Go to www.media.ford.com for news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video.

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 198,000 employees
and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

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Ford Named One of Fast Company’s Top 10 ‘Most Innovative Companies

February 23rd, 2010

DEARBORN — What does Ford Motor Company have in common with Google, Apple, and Amazon?
Ford shares a spot with them on Fast Company’s Top 10 list of “Most Innovative” companies in Mobile Technology, and becomes the first automaker to ever be recognized in the category.
“This honor represents Ford’s commitment to innovation and development of technology that
enhances the driving experience and adds real value to the consumer,” said Mark Fields, Ford
president, The Americas. “We’re very proud of this recognition from Fast Company, and it is truly an
accomplishment to be named amongst some of the leading technology innovators and mobile
application developers.”
Fast Company ranked Ford fifth in the mobile technology category for the introduction and evolution
of SYNC, the industry-leading connectivity system co-developed with Microsoft, as well as the recent
reveal of MyFord Touch, an innovative user interface that promises to redefine the in-car experience.
“The automaker has taken a great leap forward,” says Fast Company. Ford developed SYNC in response to the explosive growth potential of the mobile device and embarked on a strategy to build a software-based connectivity platform that could leverage the increasing power of the phone and improving data networks. MyFord Touch expands on the system’s device connectivity features by delivering a graphical, touch, and voice-controlled user interface that maximizes SYNC’s capability and provides an intuitive and safer way for drivers to interact with the car.
“Collaboration and strategic investment in open innovation have been keys to our success,” Fields
said. “Our relationship with Microsoft was just the beginning, as we’ve forged strong relationships
throughout the mobile industry and look forward to even more.”
In addition to introducing MyFord Touch at the recent 2010 International CES, Ford became the first
automaker to announce hands-free command and control of smart phone apps. Pandora, Stitcher,
and OpenBeak are the first to implement the SYNC Application Programming Interface (API), enabling
drivers to voice control the apps through SYNC’s Bluetooth connection.

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