Ford Intensifies Focus on Electrification Strategy as Nancy Gioia Takes a Global Leadership Role

Ford Intensifies Focus on Electrification Strategy as Nancy Gioia Takes a
Global Leadership Role

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

-- Ford Motor Company has named Nancy Gioia to the new position of
director
of Global Electrification as the company accelerates its electric
vehicle strategy

-- Gioia will lead strategy and planning for the next generation of
Ford's
global electric vehicle portfolio, touching all aspects of electrified
transportation including product planning, supplier partnerships and
collaboration with the energy industry and government

-- Ford has announced plans to produce a pure battery electric Transit
Connect commercial van in 2010, a battery electric Focus compact car
in
2011, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and next-generation hybrid
electric vehicle in 2012

-- In Europe, Ford recently revealed the first of a fleet of battery
electric vehicle (BEV) prototypes based on the Ford Focus, and
specially
developed to participate in the U.K. government's "Ultra-Low Carbon
Vehicles" demonstration initiative next year

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is intensifying its focus on global
electrification with the creation of a new position to lead the planning and
strategy for Ford's future electric vehicle portfolio.

Nancy Gioia, formerly Ford's director of Sustainable Mobility Technology and
Hybrid Vehicle Programs, North America, has been named director of Ford Global
Electrification.

"We recognize that pursuing electrification as one of our technology paths
presents unique challenges for commercialization of the vehicles," said Sue
Cischke, Ford's group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety
Engineering. "It requires us to collaborate with new partners, define new
business models, connect to a new infrastructure for the vehicles and meet new
customer expectations around the globe."

In her new position, Gioia will direct strategy and planning for Ford's global
electric vehicle portfolio, touching all aspects of electrified
transportation, including product planning, supplier partnerships and
collaboration with the energy industry and government.

"Ford is strongly positioned to accelerate its electric vehicle strategy
thanks in part to the significant research we've already completed," said Barb
Samardzich, Ford vice president, Powertrain Engineering. "Nancy's unique
background and experience in leading the hybrid technology and electric
vehicle product teams position her well to coordinate our electric efforts
across product development, sustainability and government affairs as we move
to the next frontier of this new form of transportation."

Ford has announced plans to develop three distinct types of electrified
vehicles - hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure
battery electric vehicles. They include:
-- Battery electric Transit Connect commercial van in 2010
-- Battery electric Focus passenger car in 2011
-- Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012

-- Plug-in hybrid in 2012

Ford's electrification strategy is consistent with its commitment to deliver
affordable fuel efficient technology to millions of customers. The company is
poised to take advantage of rapid advancements in electrified vehicle
technology - particularly lithium-ion batteries - while leveraging the scale
of global vehicle platforms to ultimately reduce the cost of new electric
vehicles.

Global fleet testing under way
The globalization of Ford's electrification strategy is well under way, with
test fleets on both sides of the Atlantic. At the recent Frankfurt Motor
Show, Ford of Europe revealed the first of a fleet of battery electric vehicle
prototypes based on the Ford Focus, and specially developed to participate in
the U.K. government's "Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles" demonstration initiative
next year. The research program aims to test the technology's suitability for
potential future application in Ford's European passenger car range.

A consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and Strathclyde University
will use the fleet of 15 prototype Ford Focus BEVs and a charging
infrastructure in and around the London Borough of Hillingdon starting in
early 2010.

The Focus BEV prototype is based on the current European Ford Focus and will
use a new all-electric powertrain, developed with Ford supplier partner Magna.
This technology is based on that being developed for Ford's new-generation
C-sized global vehicle architecture that will be launched in North America in
2011.

"This fleet of Focus BEV prototypes is an important step toward developing a
realistic solution and viable market for electric vehicles in the U.K., Europe
and North America," Gioia said. "Our electrification strategy absolutely
depends on strong alliances with key partners whose expertise and resources
complement our extensive experience and global production capabilities."

In North America, Ford and its energy industry partners continue to
collaborate on the connectivity issue between electric vehicles and the
electric grid. Over the past two years, Ford and its utility partners have
logged more than 75,000 miles on a test fleet of plug-in Escape Hybrids.
Plug-in hybrid research focuses on four primary areas: battery technology,
vehicle systems, customer usage and grid infrastructure.

In addition, Ford has developed an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications
and control system for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that "talks"
directly with the nation's electric grid.

Commercial and retail electric products planned
Ford is set to deliver its first electrified vehicle in 2010 when it will
launch a pure battery electric Transit Connect small commercial van. The
vehicle will be targeted to fleets and businesses with short, defined
transportation routes and the ability to return to a central charging location
at day's end.

In 2011, Ford will launch the battery electric Ford Focus passenger vehicle.
Built off the new global C platform, the BEV Focus will be produced at the
Michigan Assembly Plant for both retail and commercial customers.

"Broad commercialization of electric transportation will require unprecedented
collaboration among all stakeholders and new ways of doing business," Gioia
said. "Ford is committed to help lead the way to find creative solutions to
ensure that electrified vehicles can deliver benefits to our customers, the
environment and our business around the globe in a sustainable way."

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 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Said Deep, 313.594.0942, sdeep@ford.com; Jennifer Moore, 313.248.2335,
jmoor186@ford.com