Progress and Performance

How is Ford doing in its quest to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Based on analyses of lifecycle vehicle carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, approximately 80 to 90 percent of GHGs are emitted while the vehicle is in use, rather than during its manufacture or disposal. The in-use emissions depend on three major factors:

1. The fuel economy of the vehicles, which in turn depends on many characteristics of the vehicles themselves (such as their weight, powertrain and aerodynamics)
2. The well-to-wheels greenhouse gas profile1 of the fuels used in the vehicles
3. How the vehicles are used and maintained by their drivers

Our shorthand for this is “Vehicle + Fuel + Driver = GHG emissions.” This section reviews our progress in reducing “use phase” vehicle emissions. Emissions from our operations, logistics (the transportation of parts for our vehicles and finished vehicles to dealerships), and from our supply chain are also important elements of our greenhouse gas emission impacts and reduction strategy. These topics are covered in more detail in the “Greening Our Operations” section for our facilities and the supply chain section for logistics and suppliers.