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Ford's Clean Truck Campaign Surpasses the Two Million Vehicle Milestone

13 February 2000

    DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company this week passed the two million 
Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) truck mark, less than one and a half years 
after beginning its industry-leading environmental initiative.

    "We have publicly committed ourselves to this higher standard of corporate
responsibility because we believe it is the right thing to do," said Jac
Nasser, president and chief executive officer.  "Once we have the technology
and can take an action in volume to ensure a significant, positive
environmental impact, we will not wait for regulatory timetables.  We will
simply act."

    In keeping with a corporate pledge that has come to be known as "Cleaner,
Safer, Sooner," Ford announced in 1998 that all sport utility vehicles (SUVs)
and Windstar minivans sold in the U.S. and Canada, starting with the 1999
model year, would meet the federal government's stringent criteria for
qualifying as LEV.  This industry first was followed by the major announcement
in 1999 that all F-Series pickup trucks would be LEV, starting in the 2000
model year.

    Ford has made this pledge and is putting these much cleaner vehicles on
the roads far in advance of any government requirement to do so.  The large
majority of SUVs and pickups is not mandated to be low emission prior to the
2004 model year.

    Ford Motor Company's clean truck fleet includes the Lincoln Navigator; the
Ford Expedition, Explorer, Windstar, Excursion, and F-Series pickup-trucks;
and the Mercury Mountaineer.  The recently unveiled Escape small utility
vehicle will also be LEV.  These LEV pickups, minivans and SUVs will emit
anywhere from 43 percent to more than 50 percent fewer smog-forming emissions
than similar vehicles that do not meet LEV.

    The combined effect from Ford's early-adoption actions so far is
equivalent to eliminating the harmful smog-forming emissions from 350,000
full-size pickups on the road today.  On an ongoing basis, Ford's action will
result in 4,250 tons less of smog-forming pollutants being released annually
into the atmosphere.  It would take more than 600,000 hybrid electric vehicles
placed in service to equal the air quality benefit that Ford's action will
have in calendar year 2000.

    "The environmental benefit to date from our LEV actions is far greater
than anything else that has been done in the industry," Nasser said.  "There
has been a cost to the company for doing this, but we have found other
efficiencies so that no cost from our environmental actions is passed on to
the customer."

    Emissions actions are particularly challenging with trucks and larger
vehicles because of the range of high-demand uses.  However, Ford's industry-
leading emissions control technology and catalyst research have allowed Ford
to make dramatic reductions in vehicle emissions, and the company has
consistently led the industry in emissions-related environmental actions.

    Ford has replaced most of its engine lines the past few years with newer
models that are significantly better in controlling engine-out emission
levels.  The company also has one of the best catalyst research programs in
the industry, and Ford scientists have developed a number of industry-leading
systems to greatly reduce what still does emit from the vehicle.