Improving Vehicle Interior Air Quality and Choosing Allergy-Tested Materials

Another focus area for our materials improvements efforts is interior air quality and allergy testing. In Europe, Ford has established design guidelines for materials and filtration and is migrating those guidelines across its product line. Through this initiative, Ford offers its customers products that address the growing societal concern about allergies. Ford of Europe vehicles were the first vehicles worldwide to be awarded an "allergy-tested interior" certification by TÜV Rheinland, the Germany-based organization that controls and approves quality standards for industrial and consumer products. To obtain this certification, materials used in the manufacture of the vehicle interior must meet strict requirements focused on three key areas: measuring and meeting in-vehicle air concentration of volatile organic compounds, minimizing the risk of allergic reactions and high-efficiency air filtration. The requirements for minimizing the risk of allergic reactions include ensuring that no substances with allergenic potential (e.g., latex, nickel, chromium VI) are used for components that are likely to have contact with people's skin. It also includes the use of an efficient pollen filter to protect passengers against allergenic particles in the outdoor air.

Seven of Ford's European models have met these requirements – the new Fiesta, the European Focus (including the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet), the C-MAX , Kuga, S-MAX, Galaxy and Mondeo. In February 2008, the Berlin-based European Center for Allergy Research Foundation awarded Ford with its quality certificate, as an additional recognition for the Company's "allergy tested interior vehicle" initiative.

To build upon our success and maximize the effectiveness and implementation of material improvements, Ford established a global cross-functional Product Action Team focused on vehicle interior air quality and allergen reduction. Consistent with our One Ford global integration process, the team is committed to investigating and developing comprehensive global approaches and strategies to address issues relating to vehicle interior air quality. In North America, we plan to implement the same high-efficiency filtration specifications as in Europe across most of our product line within the next four to five years. These filters are designed to reduce pollen and other allergy-related particles.