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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: George Pipas
(313) 323-9216
FORD MOTOR COMPANY LOWERS FIRST QUARTER 2001 NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION PLAN
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 21, 2000 - Ford Motor Company announced today that it has
revised downward its first quarter 2001 North American production plan. The
company now plans to produce 1,050,000 vehicles in the first quarter, down
107,000 units (nine percent) from the prior plan. The company's first quarter
2001 North American production plan is down 220,000 units (17 percent) from the
first quarter 2000.
"It's clear that U.S. economic growth is slowing," said Martin Inglis, Vice
President, Ford North America, "and surveys of consumer sentiment point to lower
levels of spending in the future. The revised first quarter plan is intended to
align our U.S. inventories with consumer demand. We're making every effort to
stay in front of the slowing demand curve."
Inglis said the first quarter production cuts involve a one-week idling for most
North American assembly plants. "The production cuts are front-loaded in the
quarter," said Inglis, "with most of the downtime scheduled for the last two
weeks of January. This gives us the flexibility to assess the economic picture
again before the spring selling season. At the same time, we are intensifying
our efforts to achieve operating efficiencies and cost improvements."
Ford also announced that its fourth quarter 2000 production plan was reduced by
weather-related losses in North America and parts shortages outside North
America. As a result, the company expects fourth quarter earnings will be
reduced by about 10 cents per share from the present First Call consensus
analyst estimate of 74 cents a share.
Sales Analysis and Reporting,The American Road, Room 1017, Dearborn, MI 48121
Telephone: (313) 323-9216; Fax: (313) 323-0610
Internet: http://media.ford.com
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Downtime in Ford Motor Company's first quarter 2001 North American production
plan is as follows:
Week of January 1, 2001
Atlanta Assembly Plant Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
Week of January 8, 2001
Atlanta Assembly Plant Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
Hermosillo Assembly Plant Ford Escort/ZX2
Michigan Truck Plant Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator
Week of January 22, 2001
Avon Lake Assembly Plant Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest
Cuautitlan Assembly Plant Ford F-Series
Chicago Assembly Plant Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
Edison Assembly Plant Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series
Kansas City Assembly Plant Ford F-Series
Lorain Assembly Plant Ford Econoline
Norfolk Assembly Plant Ford F-Series
Oakville Assembly Plant Ford Windstar
Ontario Truck Plant Ford F-Series
Twin Cities Assembly Plant Ford Ranger
St. Thomas Assembly Plant Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
Wayne Assembly Plant Ford Focus
Wixom Assembly Plant Lincoln Town Car, Continental, LS
Week of January 29, 2001
Avon Lake Assembly Plant Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest
Cuautitlan Assembly Plant Ford F-Series
Lorain Assembly Plant Ford Econoline
