NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2011 /Coal Geology-PRNewswire/ –Sitting on empty plastic bottles while driving or riding in a car would be less than ideal. That’s not the case when it comes to the all-new Ford Focus Electric, as it features seat fabric made of recycled material that includes the equivalent of more than 20 plastic bottles per car.

The fiber – called REPREVE® – is made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials and manufactured by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a global leader in sustainable textile solutions.

Unifi officials say 22 plastic, 16-ounce water bottles are used in the seat fabric of a single Focus Electric. The figure is based on the amount of REPREVE branded fiber used in the production of fabric in each vehicle.

Ford is the first automaker to use REPREVE branded fiber in its seat fabric.

“What better vehicle than the Focus Electric to put seat fabric made of recycled materials?” said Carol Kordich, lead designer of Sustainable Materials for Ford. “Not only does the use of this fabric in Focus Electric help reduce waste, it also helps to offset the need to produce new raw material from crude oil – a process that consumes precious energy and natural resources.”

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is green in other ways, too. Focus Electric runs on battery power alone, requiring no gasoline and producing zero carbon dioxide emissions.

“We are excited to work with Ford for the introduction of REPREVE into the automotive industry,” saidRoger Berrier, president and COO of the Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi. “As REPREVE continues to expand into new applications and markets, consumers are becoming more aware of companies like Ford and Unifi working together to make a positive impact on the environment.”

In 2009 Ford mandated that fabric suppliers use a minimum of 25 percent recycled content for all 2009 and beyond model year vehicles. Since then, 37 different fabrics meeting the requirements have been developed and incorporated into Ford vehicles.

Kordich said Ford is taking it a step further by mandating that fabric be 100 percent sustainable in vehicles with eco-conscious powertrains like Focus Electric.

REPREVE fits the bill, she said, because it is a combination of post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer waste, like the plastic water bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate plastic. Using REPREVE also reduces energy consumption by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil for production.

“It made sense when we were designing the Focus Electric to keep pushing for even more innovative ways to offer our customers the best, most environmentally sound products without sacrificing quality,” said Kordich.

REPREVE meets all Ford performance requirements, said Kordich, and Ford already is considering other uses across its entire car and truck lineup.

Eco-conscious solutions
Ford’s “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.

Last month, Ford announced it is using 25 20-ounce plastic bottles to make the carpeting in every all-new Ford Escape utility vehicle it builds. It’s the first time Ford has used this type of carpeting in an SUV.

Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of nonmetal recycled and bio-based materials whenever possible, provided these materials are environmentally favorable in the specific application. Examples include soy foam seat cushions and head restraints, wheat straw-filled plastic, castor oil foam in instrument panels, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.
About Ford Motor Company 
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visitwww.ford.com .

REPREVE® is a registered trademark of Unifi Inc. and is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and with others and is used by Ford under license.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

July 26, 2011, DEARBORN, Mich., (Coal Geology)  – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported second quarter 2011 net income of $2.4 billion, or 59 cents per share, a decrease of $201 million, or 2 cents per share, from second quarter 2010. The period was marked by continued Automotive growth, solid profitability and strong cash flow, and a continued focus on strengthening the balance sheet and investing for the future.

• Second quarter net income was $2.4 billion, or 59 cents per share, a $201 million decrease from second quarter 2010. Pre-tax operating profit was $2.9 billion, or 65 cents per share, a decrease of$64 million from second quarter 2010.
• Automotive pre-tax operating profit was $2.3 billion for the second quarter, an increase of $209 million from second quarter 2010.
• Ford Credit reported a pre-tax operating profit of $604 million for the second quarter, a decrease of $284 million from second quarter 2010.
• Total Company revenue was $35.5 billion in the second quarter, up $4.2 billion from second quarter 2010.
• Ford generated positive Automotive operating-related cash flow of $2.3 billion in the second quarter.
• Ford continued to reduce Automotive debt with an additional $2.6 billion of net debt reductions in the second quarter as a result of payments on its term loans and full repayment of the outstanding balance on its revolving credit line.
• Ford ended the second quarter with Automotive gross cash of $22 billion, an increase of $700 million compared to March 31, 2011. Ford’s Automotive gross cash exceeded debt by $8 billion, an improvement of $6.6 billion during the first half of 2011.
• Ford ended the second quarter with $32.2 billion in total Automotive liquidity, an increase of $4.3 billion over the first half.
• For full year results, Ford plans to deliver continued improvement in pre-tax operating profit and Automotive operating-related cash flow compared to 2010.

“We delivered very good second quarter results while growing the business globally and serving more customers in every region,” said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. “Despite an uncertain business environment, we further strengthened our balance sheet and continued to invest for the future.”

Second quarter pre-tax operating profit was $2.9 billion, or 65 cents per share, a decrease of $64 million, or 3 cents per share, from second quarter 2010. Total Automotive results improved, offset by an anticipated reduction in Financial Services results.

For the first half of 2011, Ford earned a pre-tax operating profit of $5.7 billion, net income of $4.9 billionand reported Automotive operating-related cash flow of $4.5 billion. Ford continued to grow volume and revenue during the period.

Ford’s second quarter net income was affected by unfavorable special items of $272 million, $177 million more than a year ago. The special items include personnel reduction actions, Mercury and other dealer-related actions in North America, and pension settlements in Belgium.

Second quarter Automotive pre-tax operating profit was $2.3 billion, an increase of $209 million from second quarter 2010. Second quarter Ford Credit pre-tax operating profit was $604 million, a decrease of $284 million from second quarter 2010.

North America posted a second quarter pre-tax operating profit of $1.9 billion. South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa also were profitable.

Ford’s second quarter revenue was $35.5 billion, an increase of $4.2 billion from second quarter 2010. Ford generated positive Automotive operating-related cash flow of $2.3 billion in the second quarter.

Ford continued its focus on strengthening its balance sheet, with a net reduction in Automotive debt of$2.6 billion in the second quarter. The net reduction includes $2.3 billion of payments on its term loans and full repayment of the outstanding balance of $800 million on its revolving credit line. These actions were offset partially by an increase in low-cost loans to support advanced technology.

Ford ended the second quarter with $22 billion of Automotive gross cash, an increase of $700 million compared to March 31, 2011. Automotive gross cash exceeded debt by $8 billion, leading to a first-half improvement of $6.6 billion compared with the end of 2010.

Ford’s Automotive liquidity totaled $32.2 billion, an increase of $4.3 billion in the first half.

“We are on track for solid results in 2011, including delivering on our guidance for improved full-year pre-tax operating profit and Automotive operating-related cash flow compared with last year,” said Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Going forward, we will continue building on this solid foundation for future investment and growth.”

SECOND QUARTER 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

• Increased market share in the U.S. and Europe
• Remained No. 1 in Canada, including best June result in 22 years
• Increased sales volume by over 40 percent in Turkey and by over 30 percent in Russia
• Increased market share in China and ASEAN
• Focus, F-150 and MKX won IIHS Top Safety Pick; Focus won Euro NCAP’s five-star rating
• Lincoln named the top brand in the 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards
• Previewed 2013 Taurus at New York Auto Show
• Announced plans to build 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine and all-new eight-speed transmission
• Announced $350 million investment with joint-venture partners to build Ford’s first transmission plant in China with initial capacity of 400,000 six-speed transmissions
• Announced plan to add 340 new dealerships in China by 2015
• Made commitment to build next-generation small SUV in China
• Announced $72 million investment to increase production capacity at the Chennai Engine Plant inIndia
• Began production of Duratorq TDCi engine in South Africa
• Announced plan to export Ranger to 148 markets from South Africa
• Revealed new production plans in Europe that will enable the launch of at least 20 all-new or significantly freshened vehicles in next three years
• Signed agreement for a 50-50 joint venture in Russia with Sollers to provide more products and expanded services for the market
• Announced plan to triple production capacity of electrified vehicles in the U.S. to more than 100,000 by 2013

Total Automotive pre-tax operating profit in the second quarter was $2.3 billion, an increase of $209 millionfrom second quarter 2010.  The improvement was driven by higher net pricing at each of the Automotive operations, favorable volume and mix in North America, and lower net interest expense.  Net interest expense improved due primarily to debt repayments made since the beginning of second quarter 2010.

Total vehicle wholesales in the second quarter were 1.5 million units, up 101,000 units from second quarter 2010, as every business segment reported higher wholesales. Total Automotive revenue in the second quarter was $33.5 billion, up $4.7 billion from second quarter 2010.

North America: In the second quarter, North America reported a pre-tax operating profit of $1.9 billion, an increase of $10 million from a year ago. This reflects significant improvement in net pricing, driven by the strength of its products, and favorable volume and mix. These were offset by higher costs, including increases for new products, commodities, and structural costs. Wholesales in the second quarter were 736,000 units, up 77,000 units from a year ago.  Revenue was $19.5 billion, up $2.6 billion from second quarter 2010.

South America: In the second quarter, South America reported a pre-tax operating profit of $267 million, a decrease of $18 million from a year ago. This represents South America’s 30th consecutive quarterly pre-tax operating profit. Net pricing was higher but was more than offset by higher commodities cost and increased structural costs due to local inflation. Wholesales in the second quarter were 135,000 units, up from a year ago.  Revenue was $2.9 billion, up $300 million from second quarter 2010.

Europe: In the second quarter, Europe reported a pre-tax operating profit of $176 million, a decrease of$146 million from a year ago. The decrease was more than explained by higher commodities and structural costs.  Adverse change in dealer stocks also was a contributing factor, reflecting actions to replenish dealer stocks in second quarter 2010 following the end of scrappage programs, compared to dealer stock declines in second quarter 2011. Wholesales in the second quarter were 422,000 units, about the same as a year ago. Revenue was $9 billion, up $1.5 billion from second quarter 2010.

Asia Pacific Africa: In the second quarter, Asia Pacific Africa reported a pre-tax operating profit of $1 million, a decrease of $112 million from a year ago. The lower profit primarily reflects higher costs, which include investments Ford is making to grow across the markets in the region, as well as unfavorable product-line and market mix.  Wholesales in the second quarter were 226,000 units, up 17,000 units from a year ago. Revenue, which excludes sales at unconsolidated China joint ventures, was $2.1 billion, up$300 million from second quarter 2010.

Other Automotive: In the second quarter, Ford reported a loss in Other Automotive of $76 million, an improvement of $475 million from a year ago.  The improvement primarily reflects lower net interest expense from significant debt reduction actions. For the first half, Ford’s net interest expense was about $700 million lower than the same period last year.

For the second quarter, the Financial Services sector reported a pre-tax operating profit of $602 million, a decrease of $273 million compared with second quarter 2010.

Ford Motor Credit Company: Second quarter Ford Credit pre-tax operating profit was $604 million, a decrease of $284 million from second quarter 2010. In line with our expectations, the results reflect primarily  lower credit loss reserve reductions and the non-recurrence of lower lease depreciation expense of the same magnitude as 2010.

OUTLOOK

Ford remains focused on delivering its One Ford plan, which is unchanged:

• Aggressively restructuring to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix
• Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value
• Financing the plan and improving the balance sheet
• Working together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford’s global assets

In the first half of 2011, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales was 12.8 million in the U.S. and 15.4 million units for the 19 markets Ford tracks in Europe.

Ford is maintaining its U.S. full year industry volume outlook in the range of 13 million to 13.5 million units. For the 19 markets Ford tracks in Europe, after a strong first half, Ford sees some sign of weakness related to the debt crisis and fiscal austerity programs. Ford now forecasts the industry inEurope to be in a range of 14.8 million to 15.3 million units, compared with 14.5 million to 15.5 million units previously.

As reported with first quarter results, quality remains mixed due to some near-term issues in North America, which Ford is addressing. Ford said it is pleased with progress made to date on those issues.

The company also said it is on track to achieve quality improvements in its international operations.

The company expects its full year U.S. total market share, its U.S. retail share of the retail market and European market share to be equal to or improved from 2010. In the first half, Ford’s U.S. total market share was 16.7 percent, its U.S. retail share of the retail market was 13.9 percent and European market share was 8.4 percent.

Ford said its second quarter and first half performance were very good, and the company remains on track to deliver continued improvement for full year pre-tax operating profit and Automotive operating-related cash flow compared with 2010. In 2010, the company reported a full-year pre-tax operating profit of $8.3 billion and Automotive operating-related cash flow of $4.4 billion.

Ford said it continues to expect second half results will be lower than first half.  In the Automotive sector, this reflects increasing commodities and structural costs, as well as seasonal factors that tend to favor the first half.  At Ford Credit, lower profit in the second half primarily reflects the same factors affecting first half results.

Ford continues to expect commodities and structural costs to each increase by about $2 billion compared with 2010.  The increase in structural costs is consistent with supporting higher volumes in the short term, as well as the company’s plan to grow the business, strengthen its brand and improve its products through the business planning period.  Ford said it expects its structural costs as a percent of net revenue to improve compared with 2010.

Based on first half performance and expectations for the full year, Ford continues to expect Automotive operating margin to be equal to or improved compared with 6.1 percent in 2010, despite higher commodities cost. In the first half, Automotive operating margin, at 7.3 percent, was down half a point compared with the same period a year ago.

Ford expects 2011 capital expenditures in the range of $5 billion to $5.5 billion. Capital spending in the first half was $2 billion.

Ford expects total company third quarter production to be about 1.4 million units, up 92,000 units from a year ago, reflecting continued strong customer demand for its products.

“We are making consistent progress on our commitment to deliver profitable growth for all,” said Mulally. “Going forward, we remain focused on aggressively managing short term challenges and opportunities and strengthening the foundation to deliver our mid-decade plan and serve a growing group of Ford customers around the world.”

Ford’s planning assumptions and key metrics, and production volumes, are shown below:

Safe Harbor/Risk Factors

Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts, and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, without limitation:

• Decline in industry sales volume, particularly in the United States or Europe, due to financial crisis, recession, geo-political events, or other factors;
• Decline in market share or failure to achieve growth;
• Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
• An increase in or acceleration of market shift beyond our current planning assumptions from sales of trucks, medium- and large-sized utilities, or other more profitable vehicles, particularly in the United States;
• An increase in fuel prices, continued volatility of fuel prices, or reduced availability of fuel;
• Continued or increased price competition resulting from industry overcapacity, currency fluctuations, or other factors;
• Adverse effects from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or government-funded restructuring of, change in ownership or control of, or alliances entered into by a major competitor;
• Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates;
• Economic distress of suppliers that may require us to provide substantial financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components and could increase our costs, affect our liquidity, or cause production constraints or disruptions;
• Single-source supply of components or materials;
• Labor or other constraints on our ability to maintain competitive cost structure;
• Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of production;
• Substantial pension and postretirement health care and life insurance liabilities impairing our liquidity or financial condition;
• Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates or investment returns);
• Restriction on use of tax attributes from tax law “ownership change;”
• The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns, reputational damage, or increased warranty costs;
• Increased safety, emissions, fuel economy, or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions;
• Unusual or significant litigation, governmental investigations or adverse publicity arising out of alleged defects in our products, perceived environmental impacts, or otherwise;
• A change in our requirements for parts where we have long-term supply arrangements committing us to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller (“take-or-pay” contracts);
• Adverse effects on our results from a decrease in or cessation or clawback of government incentives related to investments;
• Adverse effects on our operations resulting from certain geo-political or other events;
• Inherent limitations of internal controls impacting financial statements and safeguarding of assets;
• Substantial levels of Automotive indebtedness adversely affecting our financial condition or preventing us from fulfilling our debt obligations;
• Failure of financial institutions to fulfill commitments under committed credit facilities;
• A prolonged disruption of the debt and securitization markets;
• Inability of Ford Credit to access debt, securitization, or derivative markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption, regulatory requirements, or other factors;
• Higher-than-expected credit losses;
• Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles;
• Collection and servicing problems related to finance receivables and net investment in operating leases;
• Lower-than-anticipated residual values or higher-than-expected return volumes for leased vehicles;
• Imposition of additional costs or restrictions due to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act”) and its implementing rules and regulations; and
• New or increased credit, consumer, or data protection or other regulations resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions.

Ford cannot be certain that any expectation, forecast, or assumption made in preparing forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projection will be realized.  It is to be expected that there may be differences between projected and actual results.  Ford’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of initial issuance, and Ford does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  For additional discussion of these risks, see “Item 1A . Risk Factors” of Ford’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] releases its preliminary second quarter 2011 financial results at 7 a.m. EST today.  The following briefings will be conducted after the announcement:

• At 9 a.m. EDT, Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO, and Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the 2011 second quarter.

• At 11 a.m. EDT, Bob Shanks, Ford vice president and controller, Neil Schloss, vice president and treasurer, and Mike Seneski, chief financial officer, Ford Motor Credit Company, will host a conference call for fixed income analysts and investors.

Listen-only presentations and supporting materials will be available on the Internet atwww.shareholder.ford.com.  Representatives of the news media and the investment community participating by teleconference will have the opportunity to ask questions following the presentations.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visitwww.ford.com .

SOURCE Ford Motor Company