FORD FLEX CUSTOMERS LOVE HAVING OPTIONS

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug.13, 2008 – The Ford Flex has an amazing list of available options –everything from SYNC to a fridge.  So how have customers ordered their vehicles?  Well-specified, as you might imagine.

In fact, Flex is better specified than any previous Ford-branded vehicle with order rates for the Vista Roof running at an incredible 66 percent – even higher than the Edge, which runs at approximately 50 percent.

The style of Flex is also a key factor in the full-size crossover segment.  After all, no other vehicle in the segment looks anything like Flex.  Customers are responding to this by adding personality to their vehicles.  More than 53 percent of them are ordering their Flex with either the Brilliant Silver or White Suede two-tone roof.

Inside, the story is the same.  The typical take rate for Ford’s optional navigation system runs at around 20 percent.  With Flex, that rate has climbed to 38 percent for the new voice-activated navigation system.  The fact that this system also has an integrated Reverse Camera System, SIRIUS Travel Link and a 10Gb hard drive for customers’ personal music collections makes the choice even easier.

In addition, the order bank for the fridge/freezer option is almost full, demonstrating that consumers really do value cool options in a vehicle like Flex – the full-size crossover that delivers better highway fuel economy than Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Veracruz.

“We have been delighted at the reaction from customers to the Flex – and to the uptake of vehicle options,” said Kate Pearce, Flex marketing manager.  “The team has worked hard to give consumers real choice, but also to give them new and exciting options such as the fridge/freezer and voice activated navigation.  In addition, the fact that so many consumers are choosing visual enhancements to the Flex’s already daring design shows us that people are really getting excited about the opportunity that Flex represents.”

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Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets 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.