Progress Since Last Report
We are continuously enhancing the safety of our vehicles through the sharing of research and technologies across brands and regions.
Others have recognized the results of our efforts. In 2006, we again earned high marks for safety from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP):
- 18 Ford vehicles received five-star ratings for frontal impact and side impact from NHTSA in its 2007 U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings.
- The IIHS awarded 22 Ford vehicles with "good" ratings for frontal offset performance in crash tests, and singled out three vehicles – the brand-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, as well as the Volvo XC90 – as Top Safety Picks. To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of "good" in offset frontal impact, side impact and rear impact evaluations and offer electronic stability control.
- Recent EuroNCAP assessments of the Ford Focus, S-MAX and Galaxy resulted in best-in-class ratings for adult and child occupant protection. Ford now has three of the seven highest-rated vehicles ever tested by EuroNCAP. The Galaxy achieved the highest score possible for a right-hand-drive vehicle.
- In 2007, the Land Rover Freelander 2 received the EuroNCAP best-in-class rating for a small off-road vehicle for adult occupant protection. This vehicle is also among the highest rated in its class for child occupant protection.
In addition to high marks on these third-party measures of safety, we are pleased to report that the volume of Ford Motor Company vehicles affected by safety-related recalls dropped last year, from more than 6 million units in 2005 to 1.7 million units in 2006.
