DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 23, 2006 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today announced details of a comprehensive plan to restore profitability to its automotive business in North America no later than 2008. Ford will apply lessons learned from consumers and the company's successes around the world to strengthen its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands and deliver more innovative products while simultaneously reducing costs and improving quality and productivity.

"The automotive market in North America is rapidly becoming as crowded and fragmented as other global markets," said Bill Ford, chairman and CEO. "To meet this challenge, we are acting with speed to strengthen the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands, deliver the innovation customers demand and create a business structure for us to compete - and win - in this era of global competition.

"We will be making painful sacrifices to protect Ford's heritage and secure our future," he added. "Going forward, we will be able to deliver more innovative products, better returns for our shareholders and stability in the communities where we operate."

Ford Around the World - 2006 Outlook

For 2006, the company is expecting another year of profitability from automotive operations outside of North America . Pre-tax profits, excluding special items, are expected from automotive operations in South America , Europe (Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group), Asia-Pacific and Africa , and from Mazda and Associated Operations. North American automotive operations are expected to be unprofitable. Overall, Ford's global automotive operations are expected to have pre-tax losses in 2006, while Ford Motor Credit is expected to achieve pre-tax profits.

The underlying assumptions behind this outlook include: full-year industry volumes of 17 million units in the U.S. and 17.3 million units in Europe ; industry net pricing that is expected to be down slightly in the U.S. and Europe . Also, the company's quality performance is expected to improve, market share is expected to stabilize or improve in all regions, and cost performance is expected to be favorable. Capital expenditures of approximately $7 billion are expected during 2006, while the company expects its year-end cash balance to be more than $20 billion.

Beyond the above expectations, the company is providing no other guidance about its financial performance for 2006 - to keep employees and investors focused on one goal: sustainable profitability over time in all regions.

"We must be guided by our long-term goals of building our brands, satisfying customers, developing strong products, accelerating innovation, and, most importantly, producing a sustainable profit from our automotive business," said Bill Ford.

Ford in North America - the Way Forward

Ford's automotive business in North America was profitable in 2003 and 2004, thanks to the product investments and cost reductions driven by the company's Revitalization Plan, announced in 2002.

Since that time, more and stronger competition in all segments, a faster-than-expected customer shift from traditional SUVs into other segments, significantly higher material and energy costs and other factors have resulted in lower market share and higher costs for the company.

"The team in North America , led by Mark Fields and supported by Anne Stevens, developed the plan for North America , drawing on their extensive global experience in Asia , Europe and The Americas. They have reenergized the Ford team to make it work, and they have the full support of the Ford Motor Company behind them," said Jim Padilla, president and chief operating officer.

Fields, executive vice president and president, The Americas, calls the plan the "Way Forward." It touches every piece of the North American business to make it more customer-focused, product-driven and efficient, including:

• More clarity for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands - with a sharper focus on the customer and a clear point of view that will appeal to more buyers than today.
• A renewed commitment to design, safety and technology innovation to differentiate Ford Motor Company and its products in the marketplace.

• New product investments - utilizing Ford's global architectures and scale - to deliver more new products faster, including more crossovers, hybrid vehicles, new small cars, increased spending on Ford's truck leadership and new "white space" products.
• Material cost reductions of at least $6 billion by 2010.
• Continued straightforward pricing that is clear, credible and simple, which will further improve residual values.
• A lean and flexible manufacturing system combined with capacity matched to demand. Capacity will be reduced by 1.2 million units or 26 percent by 2008, representing the majority of actions within the plan's 2006-2012 period.
• Plant-related employment is reduced by 25,000-30,000 people in the 2006-2012 time period, in addition to salaried personnel reductions and a reduction in the company's officer ranks.

Stronger Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Brands

Ford kicked off the Way Forward plan in October with a comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and values in the U.S. automotive market. The goal was to develop a laser-like focus on different customer targets for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury to guide each brand's design, engineering and marketing decisions.

"One of the most important findings from this research is that Americans really do want to buy American brands, as long as they are competitive with the imports," said Fields. "We know this, because it's already working in some segments today, such as the success of the new Ford Fusion in the import-dominated midsize car market.

"Of all the leading automakers, we believe Ford is America 's Car Company because of where we've been. In terms of economic and social influence, there is no other company that's had a greater impact on the lives of people in the U.S. and in the 20th century than Ford."

Customers identify with Ford and its uniquely American story, the research also revealed.

"The challenge going forward is to give our customers, employees, retirees, dealers, suppliers and investors a reason to believe in Ford. That is going to be our focus," Fields said. "Our Way Forward is not a retreat into smaller markets, but a retaking of the American marketplace. It's time to play offense. It's time to fight back.

"We will compete vigorously to be America 's Car Company, winning the hearts and minds of even more customers," he added. "We will maintain our commitment to our loyal truck customers, while delivering innovative and boldly styled cars, crossovers, SUVs and other all-new products that will appeal to people who are still inspired by the American dream."

With that clear point of view in the marketplace, Ford is investing in new products for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

The investment includes moving forward with the company's plan to offer hybrid technology on half of the company's Ford, Mercury and Lincoln nameplates in the U.S.

Today, the company is announcing that hybrid versions of the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will debut in the 2008-2010 timeframe. The new hybrids will join the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids, which are on sale today, as well as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, which will debut in 2008. Overall, Ford Motor Company plans to build 250,000 hybrids a year by 2010.