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, Ford Mustang 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. “Ford Motor Company 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 Ford Escape 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.