Ford Offers Incentives on 2003 Models

DETROIT January 6, 2003; The AP reported that the Ford Motor Co. announced its latest round of zero-percent financing and cash-rebate offers on 2003 models Monday, three days after General Motors Corp. made its latest sales push.

Effective Tuesday and continuing through Feb. 28, the world's No. 2 automaker is offering the following:

--Zero-percent financing for up to 60 months on Ford Taurus and Windstar or $3,000; Zero-percent financing for up to 48 months on Ford Focus or $2,000; Zero-percent financing for up to 36 months on Ford Mustang or $1,000; Zero-percent financing for up to 36 months on Ford Explorer four-door or $2,000; Zero-percent financing for up to 36 months on Ford Escape or $1,000; Zero-percent financing for up to 60 months or $3,000 on Ford Ranger.

GM announced cash rebates Friday on most 2003 models.

GM's aggressive incentives last month contributed heavily to a strong December for U.S. vehicle sales industrywide. Detroit's Big Three -- GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group -- saw December sales of light vehicles rise 21 percent compared with the same month last year.

But a lingering concern among investors and analysts is how much the deals are cutting into profits and whether they'll lead to soft volume in the coming months.