NASCAR STAR CARL EDWARDS ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS June 2008 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS HIT THE STREETS WORKING TOGETHER Powertrain and product teams use ONE Ford behaviors for success FRIEND TO FRIEND TV ad subject enjoys her test drive so much, she buys a new Edge INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS BRIEFS New Focus Coupe debuts on American Idol A sporty coupe version of the 2009 Ford Focus debuted on the top-rated American Idol show on May 14. The new coupe features new front and rear fascias, including a lower front fascia with a larger opening that echoes the treatment on the coming subcompact Fiesta. Also standard are new fog lights, a dark 2009 Ford Focus 9 Flex, MKS debut chrome grille and dark chrome headlamp accents, 17-inch wheels and a sport-tuned exhaust. Ford releases two summer blockbusters – the Ford Flex and the Lincoln MKS. Ford completes sale of Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors Ford Motor Company has completed the sale of Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors. The sale, for U.S. $2.3 billion, is the culmination of Ford’s decision 3 Sales report to explore strategic options for Jaguar Land Rover as it accelerates its The monthly sales figures show Ford’s strengths, weaknesses in the market. focus on its core Ford brand and its “One Ford” global transformation. It also allows Jaguar Land Rover to focus 4 Ford responds on delivering what is best for their business. As part of Company reacts quickly to changing the deal, Ford will continue to supply Jaguar Land Rover market, will adjust production and staffing. with engines, stamping and technologies. 5 ONE employees Kelley Blue Book names Flex a “Best Road Trip Vehicle” Teams demonstrate ONE Team behavior The editors at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com have named the 2009 Ford to help achieve the goals of the plan. Flex as one of their “Top Ten Best New Road Trip Vehicles.” Editors said 6 Happy convert “the functionality, cargo capacity and interior space of the Ford Flex, Customer appearing coupled with its high feature set, make it a pretty ideal cross-country in new Ford commer- commuting vehicle.... It’s the kind of vehicle that you could put lots and cials is so impressed, lots of miles on in a day and then not feel fatigued in at the end.” Turn she buys one. to page 9 for more on the Flex, which goes on sale this summer. Ford Flex 7 Drive smart Consumer experts rank Ford equal to best in total quality Ford engineers visit conventions, stores to get ideas for new product features. Ford is neck-and-neck with Toyota in total quality, says a new report by San Diego-based Strategic Vision. The independent research firm 15 Drive green found the two automakers tied for topping the most segments in New transmission cuts emissions, its Total Quality Index (TQI). Top Ford vehicles are the Ford Edge, improves fuel economy and acceleration. the Ford Mustang convertible, the Ford F-250/350 and the Mercury 17 Carl Edwards Sable. The Volvo C30 also topped its segment and the Land Rover NASCAR star for LR2 tied with the Lexis RX 350 in its class. “Ford is back, establishing Ford answers its vehicle quality in the hearts and minds of its customers,” said Ford F-250 questions about Alexander Edward, whose firm’s index measured new vehicle satisfaction among 20,600 buyers. his racing, hobbies and team spirit. Six Ford vehicles top the list in another quality survey The Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Ford Taurus, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Mark 18 Global notes LT topped or tied for first in six award segments in the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) as Focus boosts Euro sales, Ford rushes in aid, new Kuga set for splash. measured by the research firm AutoPacific Inc. The firm’s VSA is an industry benchmark for You can also get 20 Back page objectively measuring how satisfied owners are FORD World online New feature quotes reviewers, corrals with their new cars or light trucks in 46 areas Internally, visit: nine-millionth Mustang, gets clipped. related to operation, comfort, safety and overall www.fcn.ford.com experience. The data was collected from buy- Due to summer shutdowns, there will be no Externally, U.S. employees July issue of FORD World. The next issue will ers and lessees of 2008 vehicles acquired from and retirees can visit: be the August edition. September through December 2007. www.employees.ford.com Publisher: Karen Hampton Graphic Designers: Mike Mullen, Julie Yeiter Fax: (313) 845-0179 Associate Publisher: Sara Tatchio Image Coordinator: Brian Wybenga Copy Editor: Floyd Opperman Editorial: (313) 206-4679 Managing Editor: Robert Musial Writers: John Fossen, Chris Rahi Kassab, Rebecca Kavanagh, Contributing Editor: Jenn Corney Robert Musial, Todd Nissen, Kristopher Spencer, Jessica Thiringer, Advertising: (313) 594-1840 Advertising Coordinator: John Ribbing Dan Zacharias Address Changes: (313) 322-2955 orld Distribution: Tamara Neal, Neeley Edelman Photographers: Keith Tolman, Sam VarnHagen No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written consent of FORD World. Many items advertised in FORD World are available through retail organizations and establishments not connected with Ford Motor Company. Availability, price, safety, quality and durability of these items rest solely with the respective manufacturers and their sales organizations. Ford assumes no responsibility for their use. FORD World is available online at Employee Network, www.employees.ford.com. The magazine is available monthly in racks at all Ford facilities in the U.S. and Canada, FORD W and mailed monthly to retirees. To save postage costs, retirees may opt out of mail delivery at [email protected]. FORD World June 2008 1 Technical perfection, automotive passion. Faurecia Tech Day featuring JUNE 11 & 12, 2008 Ford PDC Showroom PREMIUM ATTITUDE + MORE THAN 100 INNOVATIONS IN: CONCEPT CAR perceived quality comfort safety sustainability component platforms modularity cost-effective solutions Ford employees only, please. www.faurecia.com 2 FORD World June 2008 MONTHLY SALES Focus, Fusion sell strong Vehicle Sales 2008 May Year-to-Date in May, F-Series down U.S. Top-Selling Cars and Trucks BY ROBERT MUSIAL Rank/Nameplate Units Sold FORD World 1 Ford F-Series 235,924 2 Toyota Camry 198,309 U.S. sales of the Ford Focus soared to a record 32,579 units in May, up 53 percent over a year ago, as customers turned to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. 3 Chevrolet Silverado 197,030 The rise marked only the second time in the car’s nine-year history that more than 30,000 4 Honda Accord 166,158 units were sold in one month. The first time was in October 2001, in response to zero percent 5 Honda Civic 164,994 financing. 6 Toyota Corolla/Matrix 152,308 “This is a strong statement about demand for Ford’s newest small car,” said Jim Farley, 7 Nissan Altima 133,465 Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. “Our dealers are selling the Focus at unprecedented rates, which puts it in the same league as the industry’s best-selling 8 Chevrolet Impala 122,281 small cars.” 9 Dodge RAM 112,795 Ford Fusion sales were also the highest for any month ever, up 27 percent from a year ago. 10 Ford Focus 105,499 Its stablemate, the Mercury Milan, also posted higher retail sales as did the Mercury Sable. 11 Chevrolet Cobalt 93,362 “Our small and midsized cars are outperforming the industry, and we’re only just 12 Honda CR-V 89,017 beginning,” Farley said. Late this year, the redesigned Fusion, Milan and Lincoln MKZ go into production and the 13 Toyota Prius 79,675 Fusion and Milan will also offer new hybrid versions. In addition, Ford’s global B-sized car, the 14 Ford Escape 76,966 Ford Fiesta, will be produced in North America starting in early 2010. Two models, a sedan 15 Chevrolet Malibu 74,925 and a hatchback, will be offered here to meet the growing demand for small cars. 16 Ford Fusion 73,197 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury car sales to retail customers were up 20 percent in May. Total 17 Toyota Tacoma 72,704 car sales, including those to fleet customers, were up 4 percent. Sales of crossovers were lower last month but remained strong as the Ford Escape and 18 Pontiac G6 71,062 Ford Edge, Mercury Mariner and Lincoln MKX helped the company’s crossovers continue 19 GMC Sierra 70,765 to outpace the industry. Once again, the Edge was the top-selling midsized crossover in the 20 Toyota Tundra 66,278 market. 21 Ford Econoline 63,869 The sales gains in small and midsize cars helped moderate the sharp declines in traditional 22 Toyota RAV4 61,919 SUVs (down 44 percent), trucks and vans (down 29 percent) and in sales to daily rental companies (down 30 percent). 23 Dodge Caravan 61,591 As an indication of the rapid and seismic shift in consumer preferences to smaller vehicles, 24 Honda Odyssey 59,987 four cars outsold the Ford F-Series in May, though it remains the industry’s best-selling truck. 25 Ford Edge 58,734 The F-Series sold 42,973 units to remain the best-selling vehicle year-to-date, though it was 33 MAZda3 49,129 eclipsed by the Honda Civic (53,299 units), the Toyota Corolla (52,826), the Toyota Camry 38 Ford Mustang 44,160 (51,291) and the Honda Accord (43,728) in May. In total, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales were down 16 percent. General Motors recorded 39 Ford Explorer 43,116 a 28 percent drop in sales in May while Toyota declined 4 percent.