Investor News

• SYNC, Ford’s in-vehicle connectivity system, receives prestigious da Vinci Award® from the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, Michigan Chapter. Each year, the National MS Society recognizes the most innovative developments and research in adaptive and assistive technology with the da Vinci Awards.
• SYNC popularity grows with more than 200,000 equipped Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles on the road today.
• Two new SYNC features – 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report (VHR) – launch in the fall of 2008 and will be available on all SYNC equipped vehicles.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 23, 2008 – Today the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, Michigan Chapter announced that Ford SYNC® is one its 2008 da Vinci Award winners. The National MS Society honors innovations annually that give people with disabilities the ability to participate and contribute in all aspects of society. SYNC is being honored because it features a voice-recognition interface that allows hands-free operation of a variety of Bluetooth enabled devices in a safe manner.

“Ford is honored to be recognized by the National MS Society with the da Vinci Award for SYNC,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford Motor Company vice president of Engineering. “We are committed to developing products and technologies with the flexibility to address the changing needs of consumers. With SYNC, we are able to continuously upgrade the functionality with new features like 911 Assist and VHR that will prove to be valuable for everyone.”

Introduced in the fall of 2007 and developed jointly by Ford and Microsoft, SYNC provides customers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players – Apple iPods, Microsoft Zunes and other MP3 players – and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the buttons on the steering wheel or radio.

SYNC has been very popular. The new technology – which is exclusive to Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles – has reached 200,000 unit sales since launch and is poised to reach 1 million sales in 2009. The technology is available today on nearly every new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle.

SYNC adds two new features in the fall of 2008 on 2009 model year vehicles – 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report (VHR) – and because SYNC is a software solution, owners of 2008 models equipped with SYNC already on the road will be able to have their systems updated with the new functions, as well.

911 Assist
911 Assist is designed to assist occupants to place a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an accident occur that activates an air bag or the emergency fuel cutoff. When 911 Assist launches later this year, Ford expects the accident assistance feature to be high on “customer want” lists, further supporting the company’s strategy to offer the service to all current and future SYNC owners with no monthly fees.

911 Assist is active when a phone is properly Bluetooth-paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which normally happens every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her phone. Before initiating the emergency 911 call, SYNC will provide a 10-second window to allow the driver or passenger to decide whether to cancel the call. If not manually cancelled within the 10-second window, SYNC will place the emergency call. A brief pre-recorded message will play when the call is answered, and occupants in the vehicle will then be able to talk directly with the 911 operator.

Once the call is connected, 911 operators can respond to the situation exactly as they would with any 911 call. Emergency services can determine the medical priority and dispatch the appropriate assistance based on the situation. The wireless phone service involved can provide car location information as required by federal law, which may be used to help locate the vehicle, if occupants are non-responsive, for example.

Vehicle Health Report
Proper vehicle monitoring and maintenance can save time, money, and improve the ownership experience. SYNC’s new VHR feature will make staying up to speed with vehicle maintenance easier than ever at no additional cost.

After users register at www.syncmyride.com and activate VHR, they can conveniently generate reports using simple voice commands in the vehicle for display on syncmyride.com.

VHR collects vehicle mileage and diagnostic data from the major vehicle electronic systems and transfers the data to Ford using the customer’s Bluetooth-paired and connected mobile phone.

A comprehensive report is generated and includes system information and recommended actions for any displayed vehicle warning indicators, open recalls, Ford scheduled maintenance, and un-serviced maintenance and wear items from previous dealer visits.

The user can select to receive a text message or e-mail when their report is ready on www.syncmyride.com. They can print the report, e-mail it to others, or in one click be at their preferred dealer’s website with their health report information waiting to schedule service online. Depending on the user’s preference settings, SYNC can also deliver a text message alert to the user’s cell phone if a severe issue exists with one of the SYNC-monitored systems.

The VHR system translates complicated codes and descriptions into easy-to-understand language for users and provides recommended actions specific to vehicle’s operating condition and service history.

It also gives users background information on what specific warning indicators mean and details beyond a light. This helps them learn more about their car and provides additional security and peace of mind with their ownership experience.

Even if the SYNC-monitored vehicle systems are “all green,” VHR provides valuable information about systems operation, maintenance and more.

Users also have the option to set-up SYNC to automatically remind them to run a VHR when it's time to perform scheduled maintenance.

Through a single button click, users can also reproduce their VHR and profile information in Ford's online appointment system to schedule service directly with their preferred dealership.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.