Ford Accelerates Way Forward
Ford Motor Co
15 September 2006
FORD ACCELERATES 'WAY FORWARD'
NEW PRODUCTS, LEANER STRUCTURE FURTHER DEFINE TURNAROUND
North America 'Way Forward' plan accelerated to deliver faster progress through
2008:
• Operating costs to be reduced by approximately $5 billion, including:
- Salaried-related work force reduced by a third, the equivalent of
about 14,000 positions.
- Ford, UAW leadership agree on buyout offers for all U.S. Ford and ACH
hourly employees.
- Further manufacturing capacity reductions planned.
- All ACH operations to be sold or closed by the end of 2008.
• More products to be delivered faster, including:
- 70 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products by volume will be new
or significantly upgraded between now and the end of 2008.
- Ford's truck leadership is fortified.
- Growth segments, including crossovers, are prioritized.
- All-new Ford full-size crossover to go on sale in 2008.
Ford Motor Company's financial outlook is revised:
• Full-year automotive profitability in North America not expected before
2009.
• South America and Ford of Europe still expected to be solidly profitable in
2006. However, full-year operating losses now expected in 2006 for Asia
Pacific and Africa, and the Premier Automotive Group.
• Ford Motor Company's 2006 year-end liquidity is expected to include
automotive gross cash of about $20 billion, including the effects of $3.4
billion of VEBA.
• Ford Motor Company's Board indicates that it will suspend payment of the
quarterly dividend on its common and Class B Stock beginning in the fourth
quarter of 2006.
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 15, 2006 - Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today announced
plans to further reduce its capacity and work force, and ramp up new product
introductions as it accelerates its North America 'Way Forward' turnaround plan.
Ford will cut its North American salaried-related work force by about a third
and offer buyout packages to all Ford and Automotive Components Holdings (ACH)
hourly employees in the U.S. The reductions will contribute significantly to
reducing ongoing annual operating costs by about $5 billion. In addition, Ford
will renew 70 percent of its North American product lineup by volume by the end
of 2008.
The announcements are being made this morning in an employee address led by Ford
Executive Chairman Bill Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer Alan
Mulally, President of The Americas Mark Fields and Chief Financial Officer Don
Leclair.
'These actions have painful consequences for communities and many of our loyal
employees,' said Bill Ford. 'But rapid shifts in consumer demand that affect our
product mix and continued high prices for commodities mean we must continue
working quickly and decisively to fix our business. Mark Fields and his team
deserve credit for the accelerated Way Forward strategy, which puts us on an
even faster product-driven path to success.
'Alan Mulally's experience in turning around a major industrial company will
help guide the implementation of these measures as he assumes leadership of the
company,' Bill Ford continued. 'The actions we announce today - coupled with the
North American production cuts we announced last month, the strategic
alternatives we are considering for Aston Martin and a push for greater progress
from our operating units and brands around the world - are part of a series of
actions that Alan and our entire global team will be taking to put the company
on a path to sustained profitability and success.'
Mulally, whose appointment as CEO of Ford was announced last week, echoed
support for the Way Forward plan and for the team leading the company's North
American turnaround.
'The steps we are announcing today are clearly needed to ensure the ultimate
turnaround of the business in Ford's biggest and most important market,' Mulally
said. 'Although the process has been under way for months, I have had a chance
to review these actions and am convinced that they provide the sound, product-
led underpinnings and cost reductions we will need to achieve our goals. I look
forward to helping with the implementation.
'Turnarounds of this magnitude succeed when capacity and costs are aligned with
a realistic expectation of demand,' Mulally continued. 'These actions are
certainly consistent with that goal. We will focus intensely on the needs of our
customers in North America, and around the world, by pulling forward new
products and creating new markets. We are a team united by a shared vision to
build the best automobiles in the world at Ford Motor Company.'
Fields said the Way Forward plan will continue to focus every part of the
business on the customer -building stronger Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands;
strengthening the company's North American product lineup; improving quality,
and accelerating progress on productivity and competitive costs.
'The fundamentals of our Way Forward plan have not changed, but our timetable
has changed dramatically,' said Fields. 'We've taken a sobering look at the
industry and our own business, and the entire team in North America has a
renewed sense of urgency and a clear view of what it will take to position this
business for profitability.
'We know our decisions bring more pain to the business in the short-term, and
they require sacrifice from our employees, labor unions, dealers and suppliers,'
he added. 'But, together, we are building a much stronger Ford Motor Company and
a more secure future for us all.'
Fields said the team will continue to push to move further and faster throughout
the business.
'Our work is far from over. We recognize that the competitive landscape and cost
pressures have significantly challenged our traditional business model, and that
recognition is driving more investment in small cars and crossovers, even as we
continue to position ourselves to remain the truck leader,' Fields said. 'We
will remain quick and decisive in executing our Way Forward plan and flexible in
reacting to changing conditions in the future.'
Market share declines, reflecting primarily segment shifts, and higher-than-
planned raw material costs will mean full-year profitability for Ford's North
American auto operations is not expected before 2009.
'Clearly, we could have cut product programs and maintained our goal of North
American profitability in 2008,' Fields said. 'But, even as we further reduce
our costs and capacity and make tough-but-necessary decisions throughout our
business, we cannot and will not retreat from the critical investments to
deliver the right products for our customers.'
A summary of the North America Way Forward actions to be implemented by the end
of 2008 and resulting financial impact follows.
Product-Led Turnaround
• 70 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products by volume will be new or
significantly upgraded from today through the end of 2008. The new lineup
builds on Ford's strength as America's truck leader while expanding in
growth segments, such as crossovers.
• Ford will introduce an all-new full-size crossover based on the Ford
Fairlane concept. The seven-passenger vehicle for modern families goes on
sale in 2008 and will be produced at Ford's Oakville (Ontario, Canada)
Assembly Plant.
• Ford will continue to lead the American truck market with a new Super Duty
pickup confirmed to go on sale in early 2007 and an all-new F-150 pickup
confirmed to go on sale in 2008. The vehicles boast powertrain, design and
feature upgrades.
• Ford will continue to lead America's sports car market with new Mustang
derivatives each year.
• The new Lincoln MKS flagship sedan will go on sale in 2008 - packed with
more technology and features than any prior Lincoln, including all-wheel
drive. Current plans are to produce the vehicle at the company's Chicago
Assembly Plant.
• Lincoln will continue offering the Lincoln Town Car to meet ongoing demand.
After assembly ends at Ford's Wixom (Mich.) Assembly Plant in 2007, Ford
intends to move Town Car production to Ford's St. Thomas (Ontario, Canada)
Assembly Plant. St. Thomas will be reduced to one shift of production, as
previously was announced.
• Product development work is intensifying through 2008 on creating new small
cars and even more crossovers that will go on sale in the future. These
vehicles will be based on the company's global vehicle architectures,
including 'B' and 'C' platforms not presently used in North America.
• Major investments continue in new gasoline, flexible-fuel, diesel, hydrogen
and hybrid powertrains, including additional E-85 ethanol-powered and
hybrid vehicles on the road by the end of 2008. In addition, two out of
every three Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will be offered with
fuel-saving 6-speed transmission technology by the end of 2008.
• The new products and a voluntary consolidation of the Ford and Lincoln
Mercury dealer network are designed to significantly improve the dealers'
through-put and profitability by the end of 2008.
Accelerated Cost Savings, Leaner Structure, Improved Efficiency
• Compared with 2005, annual operating costs will be reduced by about $5
billion by the end of 2008.
> Salaried-related costs will be reduced through the elimination of the
equivalent of about 14,000 salaried-related positions, which
represents approximately a third of Ford's North American salaried
work force. The reduction includes the equivalent of 4,000 positions
eliminated in the first quarter of 2006. The additional reductions
will be achieved through early retirements, voluntary separations and,
if necessary, involuntary separations - with most employees expected
to depart by the end of the first quarter in 2007.
> An agreement with the UAW will expand early retirement offers and
separation packages to all Ford U.S. hourly employees, including Ford
employees at the company's ACH plants. Employees will begin receiving
details by mid-October, and those accepting offers will leave the
company by September 2007.
> Ford will accelerate by four years its previously announced goal of
reducing 25,000 to 30,000 North American manufacturing employees by
the end of 2012. The reductions now will be completed by the end of
2008.
> The sale or closure of all ACH facilities by the end of 2008 will
result in additional employee reductions.
> Ford continues to work with the UAW to improve the competitiveness of
its U.S. manufacturing facilities. As a result, new competitive
operating agreements have been ratified by UAW locals in 30 different
U.S. Ford and ACH facilities - and nearly $600 million in annual
savings is projected to be realized.
Capacity Further Aligned with Consumer Demand
• North America manufacturing capacity is being adjusted to 3.6 million units
by the end of 2008, down 26 percent versus 2005 - in line with consumer
demand and as announced earlier.
• Nine facilities will be idled and cease production through 2008, including
seven already announced. The two additional plants are the Maumee (Ohio)
Stamping Plant and the Essex (Ontario, Canada) Engine Plant.
• Ford's Norfolk (Va.) Assembly Plant will be idled a year earlier than
planned, and a shift reduction, in advance of idling the facilities, now is
planned at Norfolk and Twin Cities (Minn.) Assembly.
• Facilities affected by the end of 2008 include the following:
> Atlanta Assembly - to be idled in October 2006
> Batavia Transmission - to be idled in 2008
> Essex Engine - to cease operations in 2007
> Maumee Stamping - intended to be idled in 2008
> Norfolk Assembly - to be idled in 2007, a year earlier than previously
planned, with a shift reduction planned in January 2007
> St. Louis Assembly - already idled in March 2006
> Twin Cities Assembly - to be idled in 2008, with a shift reduction
planned in 2007
> Windsor Casting-to be idled in 2007
> Wixom Assembly - to be idled in 2007
• Dearborn Truck Plant will add a third crew, beginning in 2007, for F-150
truck production.
• All ACH operations will be sold or closed by the end of 2008.
• Including Maumee Stamping and Essex Engine, Ford has announced plans to
cease production at 16 North American manufacturing facilities by the end
of 2012, including seven assembly plants.
Financial Impact
'Though North America's return to profitability will take longer than planned,
the actions we're taking are the right ones, and are fundamental and necessary
steps to improving our business structure,' said Leclair, the company's CFO.
'The planned improvements in our auto operations, in conjunction with Ford
Credit - which remains a core asset - will leave us well-positioned for the
future.
'We are starting from a position of strong liquidity, including our cash, credit
lines and VEBA,' Leclair added. 'We will continue to focus on enhancing our
liquidity, building upon our decision to explore strategic alternatives for
Aston Martin and the board's intent to eliminate our quarterly dividend.'
Automotive Operations
• Full-year pre-tax special items for 2006 are expected to be significantly
increased from the $3.8 billion we estimated previously to reflect the
accelerated Way Forward actions. Further details will be provided when Ford
announces Third Quarter financial results next month.
• Full-year profitability in North American automotive operations not
expected before 2009.
• Ford and Lincoln Mercury U.S. market share is projected to be in the low-16
percent range at the end of 2006.
• A further share decline is expected as production of the Ford Taurus sedan
and Mercury Monterey minivan ends in 2006 and production of the Ford
Freestar minivan ends in 2007. The end of these vehicles will reduce the
company's sales to daily rental fleets.
• With the investment in new products and improvements in quality, Ford
expects to be in the 14 to 15 percent market share range going forward -
with a focus on profitable retail share.
• South America and Ford of Europe still are expected to be solidly
profitable in 2006. However, full-year operating losses now are expected
in 2006 for Asia Pacific and Africa, as well as the Premier Automotive
Group - primarily reflecting lower volumes.
Liquidity
• Ford Motor Company's 2006 year-end liquidity is expected to include
automotive gross cash of about $20 billion, including marketable and loaned
securities and the effects of $3.4 billion of VEBA. The company will
continue to have committed automotive credit facilities totaling more than
$6 billion.
• Ford Motor Company's Board indicates that it will suspend payment of the
quarterly dividend on its common and Class B Stock beginning in the fourth
quarter of 2006.
Sept. 15, 2006
Safe Harbor/Risk Factors
Statements included or incorporated by reference herein may constitute 'forward-
looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations,
forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks,
uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those stated, including, without limitation:
• Continued decline in market share;
• Continued or increased price competition resulting from industry
overcapacity, currency fluctuations or other factors;
• A market shift (or an increase in or acceleration of market shift) away
from sales of trucks or sport utility vehicles, or from sales of other
more profitable vehicles, in the United States;
• A significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the United
States or Europe, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political
events (e.g., an escalation or expansion of armed conflict in or beyond
the Middle East) or other factors;
• Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
• Continued or increased high prices for or reduced availability of fuel;
• Currency or commodity price fluctuations;
• Adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of, change in ownership
or control of, or alliances entered into by a major competitor;
• Economic distress of suppliers that has in the past and may in the future
require us to provide financial support or take other measures to ensure
supplies of components or materials;
• Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of
supplies;
• Single-source supply of components or materials;
• Labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
• Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our
postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates, investment returns,
and health care cost trends);
• The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model
launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs;
• Increased safety, emissions, fuel economy or other (e.g., pension
funding) regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or
sales restrictions;
• Unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising
out of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
• A change in our requirements for parts or materials where we have entered
into long-term supply arrangements that commit us to purchase minimum or
fixed quantities of certain parts or materials, or to pay a minimum
amount to the seller ('take-or-pay contracts');
• Inability to access debt or securitization markets around the world at
competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to additional credit
rating downgrades or otherwise;
• Higher-than-expected credit losses;
• Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking
to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles;
• Changes in interest rates;
• Collection and servicing problems related to finance receivables and net
investment in operating leases;
• Lower-than-anticipated residual values or higher-than-expected return
volumes for leased vehicles;
• New or increased credit, consumer or data protection or other regulations
resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions; and
• Inability to implement the Way Forward plan.
We cannot be certain that any expectation, forecast or assumption made by
management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or
that any projection will be realized. It is to be expected that there may be
differences between projected and actual results. Our forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For additional
discussion, see 'Item 1A. Risk Factors' in our 2005 10-K Report.
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