FORD POSTS SECOND QUARTER PRE-TAX OPERATING LOSS OF $424 MILLION ; GAINS MARKET SHARE, REDUCES CASH OUTFLOW

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• Reported a pre-tax operating loss of $424 million, excluding special items, for the second quarter of 2009+ and net income of $2.3 billion, or $0.69 per share. Special items totaled a net gain of $2.8 billion, including a $3.4 billion gain related to debt-reduction actions
• Reduced Automotive structural costs by $1.8 billion, including $1.2 billion in North America+  
• Strong new products drove market share gains in all regions – North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa – while achieving further improvements in transaction prices and margins
• Ford’s customer satisfaction with vehicle quality reached its highest level in North America and now equals Toyota; Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles had the fewest “things gone wrong” among all automakers; Ford leads the U.S. industry in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick” awards
• Ended the second quarter with Automotive gross cash of $21 billion; operating-related cash outflow was $1 billion, an improvement of $2.7 billion from the first quarter of 2009+++
• Raised $1.6 billion by issuing 345 million new shares of common stock; completed actions to reduce Automotive debt by $10.1 billion
• Ford Credit reported a pre-tax profit of $646 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of $294 million a year ago+
• Ford remains on track, based on current planning assumptions, to achieve its key 2011 financial targets

See end notes on page 10.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 23, 2009 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported a pre-tax operating loss of $424 million in the second quarter of 2009, excluding special items – a $609 million improvement compared with the second quarter of last year – as cost reductions, net pricing, Ford Credit results and market share helped offset the continued impact of the severe global economic downturn. +†

On an after-tax basis, excluding special items, Ford posted an operating loss of $638 million in the second quarter, or $0.21 per share, compared with a loss of $1.4 billion, or $0.63 per share, a year ago. +†

Ford posted net income of $2.3 billion, or $0.69 per share.  These results compare with a net loss of $8.7 billion, or $3.89 per share, in the second quarter of 2008.†  The results for the second quarter 2009 include a special items net gain totaling $2.8 billion, or $0.90 per share, which includes a $3.4 billion gain related to Ford and Ford Credit’s recent debt-reduction actions. 

Ford’s second quarter revenue was $27.2 billion, down $11 billion from the same period a year ago. +

“While the business environment remained extremely challenging around the world, we made significant progress on our transformation plan,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.  “Our underlying business is growing progressively stronger as we introduce great new products that customers want and value, while continuing to aggressively restructure our business and strengthen our balance sheet.”

In the second quarter, Ford completed several actions to strengthen its overall business, including: 

• Completing a series of transactions that reduced Automotive debt obligations by $10.1 billion, which will save the company more than $500 million a year in interest expense
• Raising $1.6 billion through the issuance of 345 million shares of Ford common stock
• Reducing Automotive structural costs by $1.8 billion, including $1.2 billion in North America
• Reducing the U.S. hourly work force by approximately 1,000 through a buyout program

Ford reached agreement with the UAW, subject to court and other approvals, to allow Ford the option to fund up to half of its VEBA obligations with Ford common stock at market prices instead of fixed prices in 2009, 2010 and 2011. 

Ford finished the second quarter with $21 billion in Automotive gross cash, compared with $21.3 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2009.  Automotive operating-related cash flow was $1 billion negative during the second quarter of 2009, an improvement of $2.7 billion from the first quarter of 2009. Automotive operating-related cash flow was $4.7 billion negative during the first half; on track with Ford’s plan. +++

“Ford delivered a very solid quarter, and our transformation plan remains well on track,” said Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer.  “We strengthened our balance sheet, reduced cash outflows and improved our year-over-year financial results despite sharply lower industry volumes.”  

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Ford gained market share in all regions compared with the second quarter 2008:      
  • U.S. market share rose for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury by two points to 16.4 percent.  Canada and Mexico were both up, with increases of 2.8 and 1.1 points, respectively, helping Ford become Canada’s top-selling brand in June for the first time in 50 years
  • Ford’s share of the South American market improved one point to 10.4 percent
  • In Europe, Ford market share rose a half point to 9.0 percent, its highest second quarter level in the past 10 years
  • In the Asia Pacific Africa region, Ford market share was up one-tenth of a point
• For the first time in the 28-year history of the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study, U.S. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles had the fewest number of “things gone wrong” among all automakers.  Customer satisfaction with vehicle quality also continued to improve, reaching its highest level in North America and equaling Toyota
• The company posted an eighth straight year of improvement in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.  Ford and Mercury brands placed among the Top 10 in initial quality
• All Ford brands improved significantly in the J.D. Power APEAL study of customer satisfaction. The Ford F-150 and Ford Flex led their respective segments and were noted for their fuel efficiency and styling
• Ford average vehicle transaction prices in the U.S. increased at a rate above the industry average, reflecting that customers are equipping these new products with high levels of content and features
• Ford announced a $550 million investment to transform its Michigan Assembly Plant to build Ford’s next-generation Focus global small car and new battery-electric Focus
• A new passenger car plant was launched in Thailand in partnership with Mazda to build Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta models, which will be exported throughout the Southeast Asian market beginning this fall
• Ford qualified for $5.9 billion in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy for advanced fuel efficient vehicles. Ford plans to invest nearly $14 billion in the U.S. over the next seven years on advanced technology vehicles
• Ford’s total sales in China were up 39 percent in the second quarter of 2009 aided by the strong launch of the new Ford Fiesta and continued strong sales of the Ford Focus
• The new Ford Fiesta is now Europe’s No. 2-selling car, with more than 300,000 units sold since its introduction there last fall  
• The company successfully completed the European launches of the new Ford Transit Connect, Ford Ranger and Ford Transit ECOnetic  
• Began production of the 2010 Ford Taurus and the high-performance 2010 Ford Taurus SHO in North America.  Ford’s flagship sedan arrives soon in dealer showrooms
• Production has begun for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect for North America, a purpose-built van for small businesses, which will debut this summer     
• Production is under way for the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine, which will be available this year on the Lincoln MKS, Ford Flex, Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKT.  EcoBoost delivers the horsepower of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6 
• The Lincoln MKZ, Ford Focus and Volvo C30 earned the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Ford has more IIHS “Top Safety Pick” awards than any other automaker

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR +

For the second quarter of 2009, Ford’s worldwide Automotive sector reported a pre-tax operating loss of $1 billion, compared with a pre-tax loss of $699 million a year ago.  The decline reflected lower industry volumes, actions to reduce dealer stocks, higher material costs and unfavorable exchange, largely offset by structural cost reductions, favorable net pricing and improved market share.    

Worldwide Automotive revenue in the second quarter was $24 billion, down from $34.1 billion a year ago.  The decrease is primarily explained by lower volumes and unfavorable exchange, partly offset by favorable net pricing.  Total vehicle wholesales in the second quarter were 1,172,000, compared with 1,562,000 units a year ago. 

Automotive structural cost reductions in the second quarter totaled $1.8 billion, including $1.2 billion in North America.  Manufacturing and engineering costs were $1.1 billion lower, largely reflecting the continued benefits of personnel actions in North America and Europe.  Overall, Ford reduced Automotive structural costs by $3.6 billion in the first half.    

Net pricing was about $1.2 billion favorable, primarily explained by higher pricing in the U.S., reflecting the success of new products, including the Ford F-150, Ford Fusion and Ford Mustang, and the continuation of its disciplined approach on incentives.   

North America: For the second quarter, Ford North America reported a pre-tax loss of $851 million, compared with a loss of $1.3 billion a year ago.  The improvement was primarily explained by structural cost reductions, favorable net pricing and improved market share, partly offset by lower U.S. industry volume, a reduction in dealer stocks, higher material cost and unfavorable exchange.  Second quarter revenue was $10.8 billion, down from $14.2 billion a year ago.  

South America: For the second quarter, Ford South America reported a pre-tax profit of $86 million, compared with a profit of $388 million a year ago.  The decrease primarily reflects unfavorable exchange, higher commodity costs and lower volumes, partly offset by favorable net pricing and product mix.  Second quarter revenue was $1.9 billion, down from $2.4 billion a year ago.  

Europe: For the second quarter, Ford Europe reported a pre-tax profit of $138 million, compared with a profit of $582 million a year ago.  The decline was primarily explained by lower industry volume, dealer stock reductions, higher material cost and unfavorable mix, partly offset by structural cost reductions, favorable net pricing and market share improvement.  European pre-tax results improved by about $700 million in the second quarter as compared to the first quarter of 2009.  This improvement primarily reflects higher industry volumes, a smaller decrease in dealer stocks, lower costs and favorable net pricing.  Second quarter revenue was $7.2 billion, down from $11.5 billion a year ago.

Volvo: Volvo is reported as an ongoing operation. The effects of “held-for-sale” accounting-related adjustments are reported as special items. For the second quarter, Volvo reported a pre-tax loss of $231 million, compared with a loss of $120 million a year ago.  The decline primarily reflected lower volumes, partly offset by continued progress on cost reductions and favorable exchange. Second quarter revenue was $2.9 billion, down from $4.3 billion a year ago. 

Asia Pacific and Africa: For the second quarter, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa reported a pre-tax loss of $25 million, compared with a profit of $50 million a year ago.  The decline is more than explained by adverse market mix, partly offset by lower costs.  Second quarter revenue was $1.2 billion, down from $1.7 billion a year ago.

Other Automotive: Other Automotive, which consists primarily of interest and financing-related costs, reported a second quarter pre-tax loss of $136 million.  This included net interest expense of $271 million, partly offset by fair market value adjustments, primarily attributable to our investment in Mazda. †    

FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR+

For the second quarter, the Financial Services sector reported a pre-tax profit of $595 million, compared with a loss of $334 million a year ago.

Ford Motor Credit Company: Ford Credit reported a pre-tax profit of $646 million in the second quarter, compared with a pre-tax loss of $294 million a year ago.  The improvement primarily reflected lower depreciation expense for leased vehicles due to higher auction values, net gains related to unhedged currency exposures, a lower provision for credit losses and lower operating costs. These factors were partly offset by lower volume and non-recurrence of a gain related to the sale of approximately half of Ford Credit’s ownership interest in its Nordic operations.

Other Financial Services: Other Financial Services reported a loss of $51 million in the second quarter, compared with a pre-tax loss of $40 million a year ago. The decline is more than explained by a loss related to a real estate transaction.

OUTLOOK
Despite the severe global downturn, Ford said it continues to make progress on all four pillars of its plan:

• Aggressively restructure to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix
• Accelerate the development of new products that customers want and value
• Finance the plan and improve the balance sheet
• Work together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford’s global assets

Ford said it remains on track to achieve or exceed all of its 2009 financial targets and most of its operational metrics. 

The company said it now expects full-year market share to improve compared to 2008 in the U.S. and Europe, reflecting share increases in the first half and strong reception to new product introductions. 

Ford expects 2009 U.S. industry sales will be between 10.5 million and 11 million units, consistent with the outlook previously communicated by the company. Based on first half European industry volume, Ford now expects that Europe’s full-year industry sales will be in the range of 15 million to 15.5 million units, which is higher than the previous outlook.

Ford expects third quarter 2009 production to be up, compared with 2008 and second quarter 2009 production.  This increase is largely due to tightly controlled inventories and higher market demand for our products.

Ford remains on track to exceed its $4 billion Automotive structural cost reduction target for 2009.  Second half cost reductions, however, will be less than the first half, reflecting the significant cost reductions achieved during the third and fourth quarters of 2008.

Ford expects Automotive operating-related cash flows in the second half to improve from first half levels consistent with its current planning assumptions. However, due to substantial improvements in the second quarter, third quarter levels may not improve sequentially.

Ford Credit expects its second half 2009 results to be lower than its first half 2009 results.  Ford Credit does not expect the net gains related to unhedged currency exposures or improvements in lease residual losses in the amounts experienced in the second quarter 2009 to continue.  A continuing decline in receivables will also contribute to lower second half 2009 results.  

Based on its current planning assumptions, Ford has sufficient liquidity to fund its product-led transformation plan and provide a cushion against the uncertain global economic environment.  In addition, Ford will continue to pursue actions to improve its balance sheet. 

The company remains on track to achieve its key 2011 financial targets, based on current planning assumptions, including overall and North American Automotive pre-tax results being breakeven or better, excluding special items, and Automotive operating-related cash flow being breakeven or better.

“Our product-led transformation is working, and we are pleased with our progress in the second quarter,” Mulally said.  “While the economic environment remains challenging, I am more convinced than ever we are on the right path to create a healthy and profitably growing Ford.”

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