This month, Ford Motor Company is launching an aggressive campaign to improve consumer opinion of Ford brand vehicles in the U.S. and to encourage employees, retirees, dealers and others to be enthusiastic advocates for the company, the brand and its products.

Ford’s new Focus and SYNC are connecting with small car buyers. Focus retail sales were up 36 percent in February – the fourth month in a row of higher retail sales.

“The new Focus and SYNC arrived at an opportune time,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president, Marketing and Communications. “We needed to raise awareness and consideration among younger buyers – and Focus and SYNC are getting us back in the game.”

Demand for Ford’s crossovers remained strong in January.  Sales for the Ford Edge were 95 percent higher than a year ago and the Lincoln MKX was up 78 percent.

Retail demand for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars also was strong in January, especially for the new Focus.  Sales for the Focus were up 44 percent compared with a year ago, with retail sales up 33 percent.  Combined retail sales for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ also were higher than a year ago.

Led by two new and three redesigned models, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossover utility vehicles paced the industry’s fastest-growing segment with a gain of 62 percent in 2007, more than triple the industry-wide growth of 17 percent. In its first full year, Ford Edge sales were 130,125, exceeding Ford’s original forecast by 30 percent. In December, Edge capped off the year with its best-ever retail sales month.

Ford Motor Company today reported a net profit of 31 cents per share, or $750 million, for the second quarter of 2007. This compares with a net loss of 17 cents per share, or $317 million, in the second quarter of 2006.

Ford's second-quarter revenue was $44.2 billion, up from $41.9 billion a year ago. The increase primarily reflected currency exchange, mix and net pricing improvements, partially offset by lower volume.

Ford Motor Company has the most top-quality vehicles in the industry, according to a customer-based initial quality survey released today by J.D. Power and Associates.

 

In the research firm’s 2007 Initial Quality Study (IQS), Ford Mustang, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln Mark LT and Mazda MX-5 Miata swept their vehicle segments for top honors.

Mazda Motor Corporation welcomed Alan Mulally president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company, to Mazda headquarters in western Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture today. Ford is Mazda’s largest shareholder and strategic business partner, and this was Mulally’s first visit to Mazda in Hiroshima. . .

 

Allan Gilmour, retired vice chairman, Ford Motor Company, and Jeffrey Cook, technical leader, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering were awarded the Distinguished Service Citation today by the Automotive Hall of Fame at its annual awards luncheon during the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) conference. . . .

 

As part of our ongoing strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford. “Aston Martin Lagonda has flourished under Ford ownership. . .