Proxy Statement Filed

Ford Motor Co
8 April 2004


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FORD MOTOR COMPANY PROXY REPORTS 2003 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

DEARBORN, Mich., April 8, 2004 - Ford Motor Company today filed its 2004 proxy
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statement outlines
compensation for select executives, including William Clay Ford, Jr., chairman
and chief executive officer. 

Compensation of Ford executives for 2003 generally consisted of salary, stock-
based awards and bonuses. 

Compensation details found in the 2003 proxy statement include:

•    William Clay Ford, Jr., chairman and CEO, received no cash salary in 2003. 
     In lieu of a cash salary for his role as CEO, he was awarded options to 
     purchase 486,493 shares of common stock, tying his compensation to the 
     long-term performance of Ford stock over multiple years. He was awarded a 
     2003 bonus in the form of 113,122 restricted stock equivalents with a fair 
     market value of approximately $1.5 million at the time of grant. Mr. Ford 
     intends to use the proceeds of his bonus for tuition assistance targeted to 
     children of Ford employees when the restricted stock equivalents convert to 
     shares in 2005. He also received a stock option grant covering 4,000,000 
     shares in lieu of other long-term compensation. In addition, he received 
     other compensation totaling $174,361.  ('Other compensation' refers to 
     certain tax reimbursements and various perquisites such as required use of 
     the company aircraft. Other details are highlighted on page 30 of the proxy 
     statement.)

•    Nicholas Scheele, president and chief operating officer, earned $2,177,171,
     including $1,000,000 in salary, $825,000 in bonus and other compensation
     totaling $352,171. He also was awarded options to purchase 500,000 shares 
     of common stock. 

•    Allan Gilmour, vice chairman, earned $1,662,500, including $912,500 in 
     salary and $750,000 in bonus. Long-term compensation for his services as 
     vice chairman and chief financial officer was 300,000 shares of restricted 
     common stock worth $2,289,000 at the time of grant. In addition, he 
     received $1,038,731 from his retirement plans associated with his earlier 
     years of service with Ford Motor Company. Since his return to the company, 
     he does not accrue additional retirement benefits. 

•    Carl Reichardt, former vice chairman, was awarded restricted shares of 
     common stock worth $3,192,345 at the time of grant, representing 57,555 
     shares awarded in lieu of a cash salary of approximately $525,000, 28,280 
     shares awarded as a 2003 bonus and 300,000 shares awarded in lieu of other 
     long-term compensation. In addition, he received other compensation 
     totaling $242,053, plus $12,694 in payments under Ford's retirement plans. 

•    Jim Padilla, executive vice president and president of the Americas, earned
     $1,901,739, including $900,000 in salary, $900,000 in bonus, as well as 
     $101,739 in other compensation. He also was awarded options to purchase 
     250,000 shares of common stock. In addition, he was awarded $968,000 worth 
     of restricted stock in connection with his appointment as executive vice 
     president. 

•    David Thursfield, executive vice president of international operations and
     global purchasing, earned $1,724,053, including $900,000 in salary, 
     $750,000 in bonus, and other compensation totaling $74,053. In addition, he 
     was awarded options to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock. Further, he 
     was awarded $968,000 in restricted stock in connection with his appointment 
     as executive vice president.  

The Compensation Committee of Ford's Board of Directors, which is composed of
non-employee directors, determines compensation of the executives listed in the
proxy statement.

A proxy statement and proxy card are being mailed to Ford Motor Company common
and Class B shareholders today. The 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be
held at The Seelbach Hilton Louisville, 500 S. 4th Street, Louisville, Ky., on
Thursday, May 13, at 10 a.m., Eastern Time. 

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six
continents. With more than 328,000 employees worldwide, the company's automotive
brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury
and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and
Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.  


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