FEBRUARY 7, 2011 U. S. AUTO SCENE PAGE 3 Visteon Explores Electronics for Growth Markets Ford Reports 27 Percent by Stefanie Carano mom and dad and maybe two aware of what’s around him, sual tricks to make it larger Staff Reporter kids, then they move into a even much more so than here and you could do it with Detroit Auto Scene car,” he said. in North America. I’ve noticed shapes, you could do it with Rise in January Sales In India, for instance, Jarvis there’s constant checking, colors. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 with the best, or among the Visteon Corporation is de- said everyone has a mobile they’re always using their mir- “The color palette that best, fuel economy with every veloping vehicle electronics phone. rors, they’re always looking seems to be preferred in this To wit, Fiesta posted January new vehicle we introduce. We specifically designed for use So, when considering tech- around.” market are traditional blacks sales of 4,270 in the U.S. In also have four vehicles with 40 in emerging car markets. nology for the vehicle, the Visteon has kept an eye on and grays and tans as op- 2010, it was Fiesta that played mpg or higher fuel economy – The technology was creat- company created an integrat- price, he said, by using a little posed to North America or a key role in helping Ford to Fiesta, Focus, Fusion Hybrid ed in collaboration with 3M ed control panel showing an bit smaller display than you Europe where there might be achieve its highest retail share and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – and is intended to create the easy-to-use, easy-to-read ca- might find in a product of this some vibrant colors and it in California since 2006. more than any other au- appearance of space in the ve- pacitive touch panel. size and have stayed within a could be that because this The Los Angeles region con- tomaker.” hicle and improve safety us- “So, it’s a completely flat monochromatic color range market tends to keep their tinues to be the top-selling re- And Fusion, Ford’s popular ing entertainment and climate surface using capacitive of blues to keep cost down, cars for a long, long time gion for Ford’s smallest such midsize sedan, set a January controls in traffic conditions touch controls for climate rather than offering the full (and) they want to stay away mainstream new car. sales record of 14,346, up 18 specific to these markets. and audio and infotainment,” color scheme. from colors that they might Focus retail sales increased percent. “We’re exploring what prod- he said. “Even with this reduced col- think might go out of fashion.” 41 percent for the month as Fusion retail sales were up uct concepts in interiors, “We do have one mechani- or range, it’s still an attractive Even with the traditional well. 39 percent. In 2010, Fusion set lighting and climate might be cal control and that’s the vol- display and it’s easy to use color set, he said, they’re pro- The Focus and Fiesta com- a full-year sales record of for growth markets,” said ume knob. That’s an easy-to- and easy to read at a quick posing a laser-edged decora- bined to boost the company’s 219,219 units – the first time Mark Jarvis, innovation proj- use knob in any market. You glance,” said Jarvis. tion that allows for some ele- small car retail sales to a level since 2004 that a Ford car has ect manager for North Ameri- never need to teach anyone Going with the idea that the ment of decoration even with- almost double a year ago – up eclipsed the 200,000 volume ca. how to use a volume knob typical vehicle in these mar- in a limited color palette. 99 percent, in fact. The all-new milestone. “We also did some market and there still seems to be a kets would be a driver’s first They also designed in a Focus arrives in dealerships Also, retail research in the India region preference for that sort of car, the company offers driver pedestal for objects of per- later this spring. sales were up 17 percent, and and based on our understand- control for that feature.” information in the instrument sonal significance. “Higher gasoline prices are Lincoln MKZ retail sales in- ing of where the technology is He said they made the pan- cluster as a separate feature. “The other thing we’ve factoring into vehicle pur- creased 42 percent. In January, going, we blended all that el large and easy to read pri- “It’s using package space ef- done with interiors is we’ve chase decisions,” added Ford’s the new MKZ Hybrid ac- knowledge to come up with marily because driving in ficiently and yet it still gives added illumination, in this Czubay. counted for 24 percent of MKZ some of these concepts.” some of these growth markets the features a first car owner case a blue color,” said Jarvis. “ is retail sales – the highest since Visteon currently demon- is a challenge. would expect,” he said. “I think it works great on an leading the way for consumers it was introduced in October. strates these products in an A “Traffic is very busy, there’s Visteon has also reshaped A segment car because one of segment production car, what lots of different things in traf- the instrument panel to give it the things it does is it makes might be a typical car in these fic,” Jarvis said. “There’s cars, a flowing shape. it feel larger and also it adds markets, especially India. there’s trucks, there’s motor- “With this sized car, it’s a an emotional ambiance to it Ford Motor Credit Has “They would have raised cycles, there’s bikes, there’s challenge to make it larger,” that makes you feel like their family maybe up to mo- people, there’s animals and a Jarvis said. you’ve got a cool technology torcycle where there was driver needs to be constantly “We’re trying to do some vi- in your car.” $2 Billion Net Income CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 total of $2.5 billion of distribu- tions in 2010. of 2010, compared with $714 For full-year 2011, Ford Blind Driver Safely Pilots Hybrid SUV million in the previous year. Credit expects to be solidly By KYLE HIGHTOWER In 2004 it began the Blind The decrease in pre-tax earn- profitable but at a lower level Associated Press Driver Challenge through its ings primarily reflected lower than in 2010, reflecting prima- Jernigan Institute. The chal- volume and the non-recur- rily the non-recurrence of DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) lenge encouraged partner- rence of lower lease deprecia- lease depreciation expenses – It’s a cloudy morning at Day- ships with universities and tion expense related to lower and credit loss reserve reduc- tona International Speedway, manufacturers to create tech- gains as fewer leases termi- tions of the same magnitude but Mark Riccobono can’t tell, nology that would enable a nated and the vehicles were as 2010. At year-end 2011, nor does it really matter to blind driver to safely operate sold. managed receivables are an- him. a vehicle. “We are pleased with our ticipated to be in the range of He walks up to the driver’s The recent event has been 2010 performance, which en- $80 billion to $85 billion. Ford side of a black, Ford Escape in the developmental phase abled us to increase our Credit expects to pay distri- Hybrid parked on the start- for the past three years planned distributions” Ford butions to its parent of about finish line, opens the door, thanks to the NFB’s partner- Credit Chairman and CEO $2 billion in 2011. sits down and adjusts his ship with Virginia Tech Uni- Mike Bannister said. Ford Motor Credit Compa- seat. After a few minutes the versity’s College of Engineer- “We expect results to be ny LLC has provided dealer car revs up and takes off. ing and TORC Technologies. solid though more moderate and customer financing to None of that’s unusual at The students developed the in 2011 as we continue to pro- support the sale of Ford Mo- one of the meccas of motor- equipment Riccobono will vide strong support for Ford, tor Company products since sports racing, except for one use. TORC integrated those our dealers and customers.” 1959. Ford Credit is an indi- thing: Riccobono is blind. into a working vehicle. A blind driver safely completes a road test at the Daytona Inter- On December 31, 2010, rect, wholly owned sub- Last week, Riccobono took Several Virginia Tech stu- national Speedway in this modified Ford Escape Hybrid. Ford Credit's on-balance sidiary of Ford. part in a public demonstra- dents teamed with TORC and sheet net receivables totaled Ford Credit’s announce- tion, driving independently won $500,000 when they vehicle, which scan the envi- how much to accelerate. $81 billion, compared with ment coincides with positive with the help of new nonvisu- placed third in a 2007 compe- ronment and feed information “One of the main things I $93 billion at year-end 2009. earnings from Ford Motor Co. al technology and a specially tition put on by the U.S. De- to sensors worn by the driver. want to do is build technolo- Managed receivables were for both calendar year 2010 modified car. The event, fense Department to build a Working with just $5,000 in gy that helps society,’’ said $83 billion on December 31, and for the month of January. spearheaded by the the Na- fully robotic vehicle. initial funding, the first vehi- Paul D’Angio, 23, the lead Vir- 2010, down from $95 billion at Auto analysts have said tional Federation of the Blind, So when Dr. Dennis Hong, cle they built in 2008 convert- ginia Tech grad student on year-end 2009. The lower re- that Ford’s cash position, rel- is part of the pre-race activi- director of Tech’s Robotics ed a dune buggy they bought the project. “You can work ceivables primarily reflected ative to its competitors, re- ties of the recent Rolex 24 and Mechanics Laboratory on eBay for $2,000. That car with the military and make the discontinuation of Jaguar, mains the strongest among event at Daytona. Riccobono (RoMeLa), heard about NFB’s featured vibrating chairs and plenty of awesome technolo- Land Rover, Mazda, and Volvo the domestics and even as actually drove a portion of challenge, he thought it was a vests and was debuted in the gy, but it won’t help people financing and lower industry Ford shakes out the Mercury the same course as the driv- no-brainer to get involved. summer of 2009 during a pro- until years later ...This is volumes in recent years. brand, its product lineup with ers in the race. “We said, ‘Hey, we already gram the NFB held for 175 something happening now.’’ On December 31, 2010, Ford brand and Lincoln “I pretty much shut out the have a fully-autonomous vehi- high school-age blind stu- Anil Lewis, the NFB’s direc- managed leverage was 6.7 to should be strong enough to idea that driving was possi- cle, how difficult would it be dents. tor of strategic communica- 1. Ford Credit distributed $1 carry the Dearborn automak- ble, because I didn’t want to to put a person inside?’’’ Hong The BDC is now funded tions, trained alongside Ric- billion to its parent in the er forward going into winter - focus on that aspect of some- said. “We couldn’t have been through grants. cobono to drive the Escape. fourth quarter of 2010 for a spring sales season. thing I couldn’t do,’’ said Ric- more wrong. They did not The Ford Escape Hybrid He didn’t lose his sight until cobono, 34, who has been want a vehicle to drive a blind that he used is fitted with age 25 when he developed an legally blind since age 5 and person around. They wanted more elaborate lasers and a incurable form of blindness was selected from a group of a vehicle that a blind person camera system designed by called retinitis pigmentosa. Ford Supports Safe Teen test drivers to be behind the could make active decisions TORC that will react with the Having learned to drive as a wheel recently. “But I think in and actually drive the vehi- new DriveGrip and SpeedStrip sighted person, he said re- this project is a clear example cle. So we had to start from devices the Virginia Tech stu- learning to drive blind wasn’t Driving Program in U.S. that when you dream big and scratch.’’ dents designed. a big difference. WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor will be announced on put your heart and resources Hong said the biggest chal- DriveGrip consists of two “It’s very close to the same Company Fund and the Gov- www.drivingskillsforlife.com into it, you get to unimagined lenge was figuring out a way gloves that send vibrations kind of learning curve as a ernors Highway Safety Asso- in July of 2011. places.’’ to convey real-time informa- over the knuckles to tell the sighted person learning to ciation (GHSA) are intensify- “We are very pleased to of- The NFB, an advocacy tion to a driver who can’t see. driver how much to turn the drive,’’ said Lewis, 46. “You ing their effort to educate fer this exciting program to group of more than 50,000 They came up with a combi- wheel. SpeedStrip is a cush- learn different techniques, teen drivers about the dan- teen drivers for the second members, hatched the idea a nation of mounted laser and ion down the back and legs of but as you drive you get more gers of distracted driving – consecutive year,” stated Jim decade ago. camera sensors around the the driver which tell them comfortable.” such as texting while driving Graham, Community Rela- – through its nationwide Ford tions Manager, Ford Motor Driving Skills for Life (Ford Company Fund. “Belt it Out is DSFL) program. an outstanding opportunity Has Ford’s 2010 Success ‘Spoiled’ Wall Street’s View? Back by popular demand, for teens to educate their By DEE-ANN DURBIN they’re going to miss it,’’ Stan- sedan and Ford the competition is there,’’ he Ford DSFL announces that the peers about the dangers of and TOM KRISHER dard and Poor’s analyst Edge crossover. said. popular songwriting contest, distractions through creativi- AP Auto Writers Efraim Levy said. As a result, a leaner Ford Ford also trails in the luxu- “Belt it Out,” will return for a ty.” Ford earned $6.6 billion, or was in a good position to ry segment, where its Lincoln second consecutive year. About Ford Motor Compa- DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) – $1.66 per share, last year, scoop up U.S. market share brand has struggled for years Teens ages 15-19 are encour- ny and Community Services: Ford Motor Co. is the most more than double the $2.7 bil- when its Detroit rivals, Gener- with an uncertain identity and aged to compose and perform Ford Motor Company Fund profitable it’s been in a lion, or 86 cents per share, it al Motors and Chrysler, filed dull cars that don’t measure original songs focusing on and Community Services are decade, since the days when made in 2009. That was the for bankruptcy protection in up to Cadillac and other ri- distracted driving. committed to creating oppor- Americans were snapping up most it’s made since 1999, 2009 and when Toyota an- vals. Ford plans to release Ford DSFL was created in tunities that promote corpo- SUVs. But maintaining that when it earned $7.2 billion. nounced a damaging series of seven new or revamped Lin- 2003 in partnership with GH- rate citizenship, philanthro- momentum – and meeting the But excluding charges from safety recalls last year. colns in the next four years, SA to combat the No. 1 killer py, volunteerism and cultural high expectations of buyers, debt reduction and other Ford’s U.S. sales jumped 20 and it’s closing hundreds of of teens, vehicle crashes. It is diversity for those who live in workers and investors – will items, Ford earned $1.91 last percent in 2010, double the Lincoln dealerships in order one of the nation's most com- the communities where Ford be a big challenge in the com- year, below the $2.05 analysts rate of the rest of the indus- to make the remaining ones prehensive teen driver safety operates. ing year. expected. try. The Ford brand was the more upscale and profitable. programs. Established in 1949, and Ford got a taste of that re- Ford said it should have top-selling brand in the U.S. But Mulally says it will be two Ford DSFL offers learning made possible by funding cently. Despite reporting a kept analysts better informed last year, besting Chevrolet years before buyers start to tools such as hands-on driv- from Ford Motor Company, profit for 2010, the company’s about potential problems in and Toyota for the first time see real changes. ing events and an interactive the Ford Motor Company stock fell more than 13 per- the fourth quarter, including a since 2003. Another potential drain on website (www.drivingskills- Fund supports initiatives and cent to close at $16.27. In- loss in Europe and a $1 billion Ford wants to hang on to Ford’s income could be the forlife.com) that features institutions that foster inno- vestors were disappointed increase in costs in North those gains, but that won’t be United Auto Workers union, learning modules, quizzes, vative education, auto-relat- that the results fell short of America, partly to fund the easy. While U.S. sales are ex- which negotiates a new con- car care videos, and games. ed safety, and American her- expectations. Ford also post- launch of new products like pected to recover further this tract with Ford this fall. Ford’s Free educator packets are itage and legacy. ed an 80-percent drop in the . year as the economy im- U.S. factory workers turned available for students, par- National programs include fourth-quarter net income, By any measure, Ford has proves, Ford heads into 2011 down a 2009 agreement that ents, educators and commu- Ford Partnership for Ad- missing forecasts and ending made big improvements since with two fewer brands than it would have frozen entry-level nity organizations. vanced Studies, which pro- two years of better-than- CEO Alan Mulally joined the had in 2010, after selling Vol- wages and limited their ability Teens are invited to visit vides high school students expected results. company in 2006. Using a vo and closing Mercury. to strike. With an eye on www.drivingskillsforlife.com with academically rigorous It was clear Ford won’t have $23.5 billion loan it got from Many Mercury buyers will Ford’s healthy profits, work- to find a complete description 21st century learning experi- much room for error as it mortgaging its factories and consider Fords, but not all of ers also may demand that the of the contest and the appli- ences, and Ford Driving Skills tackles nagging problems, other assets, including its them. According to Ed- company restore some of the cation. for Life – a teen-focused auto from the huge loans it took blue oval logo, Ford sold or munds.com, 37 percent of wage cuts they agreed to in Applications will be accept- safety initiative. out to fund its turnaround to shuttered five of its seven people trading in a Mercury in their last contract. ed from February 1-May 1, The Ford Volunteer Corps, its upcoming labor talks to its brands, closed or sold a quar- December bought a Ford, but Ford made a peace offering 2011. The public will be invit- established in 2005, contin- stodgy, slow-selling Lincoln ter of its plants and cut its 39 percent bought Japanese to its 40,600 U.S. factory work- ed to visit www.drivingskills- ues Ford's legacy of caring brand. global work force by more or Korean brands. ers Friday, announcing that forlife.com on June 1st to worldwide. Through the Vol- “When a company consis- than a third. It also slashed la- Levy said buyers’ memories they would get $5,000 profit- help select the top five final- unteer Corps, Ford employ- tently beats expectations, an- bor and health-care costs, of GM, Chrysler and Toyota’s sharing payments this year. ists that will compete for the ees and retirees participate alysts and investors start plowing the money back into struggles also are fading. It’s the first time Ford has 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place grand in a wide range of volunteer pushing. They raise the bar to the design of well-received “Those factors are moving handed out the checks since prizes. projects in their communi- the extent that eventually new products such as the into the rear-view mirror, so 1999. Winners of the competition ties.