Ford Posts First Quarter Pre-Tax Profit of $2.1 Billion, Driven by Highest North America Profit in More than a Decade; Net Income of $1.6 Billion+

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•	Strong total company pre-tax profit was $2.1 billion, or 41 cents per share, a decrease of $147 million from a year ago; 15th consecutive quarter of profitability

•	Net income was $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share, an increase of $215 million compared with a year ago

•	Positive Automotive operating-related cash flow was $700 million for the quarter — the 12th consecutive quarter of positive cash flow — with strong liquidity of $34.5 billion, unchanged from year-end 2012

•	Wholesale volume and total company revenue each grew about 10 percent compared with a year ago, including market share gains in North America and Asia Pacific Africa

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North America pre-tax profit was a record $2.4 billion — the highest quarterly profit since at least 2000, when the company began reflecting the region as a separate business unit — with an operating margin of 11 percent. Ford also reported a small pre-tax profit for Asia Pacific Africa, and losses in Europe and South America

•	Ford Credit continued its solid performance with a first quarter pre-tax profit of $507 million

•	For full year 2013, the company’s guidance remains unchanged — Ford expects another strong year, with total company pre-tax profit about equal to 2012, operating margin about equal to or lower than 2012, and Automotive operating-related cash flow higher than 2012

 Total company first quarter pre-tax profit of $2.1 billion, or 41 cents per share, was $147 million lower than a year ago, more than explained by Europe and South America. Net income for the first quarter of $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share, was $215 million higher than a year ago.

Ford Asia Pacific Africa

OUTLOOK

•  Aggressively restructuring to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix

•  Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value

• Financing the plan and improving the balance sheet

• Working together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford’s global assets

 

+	The financial results discussed herein are presented on a preliminary basis; final data will be included in Ford’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar. 31, 2013. The following information applies to the information throughout this release:

•	Pre-tax operating results exclude special items unless otherwise noted.

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See tables following the “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of special items, and reconciliation of items designated as “excluding special items” to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Also see the tables for reconciliation to GAAP of Automotive gross cash, operating-related cash flow and net interest.

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Discussion of overall Automotive cost changes is measured primarily at present-year exchange and excludes special items and discontinued operations; in addition, costs that vary directly with production volume, such as material, freight, and warranty costs, are measured at present-year volume and mix.

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Wholesale unit sales and production volumes include the sale or production of Ford-brand and JMC-brand vehicles by unconsolidated affiliates. JMC refers to our Chinese joint venture, Jiangling Motors Corporation. See materials supporting the Apr. 24, 2013 conference calls at www.shareholder.ford.com for further discussion of wholesale unit volumes.

++	Excludes special items.

+++	Excludes special items and “Income/(Loss) attributable to non-controlling interests.” See tables following “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of these special items and reconciliation to GAAP.

 

•	Decline in industry sales volume, particularly in the United States or Europe, due to financial crisis, recession, geopolitical events, or other factors;

•	Decline in Ford's market share or failure to achieve growth;

•	Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of Ford's new or existing products;

•	Market shift away from sales of larger, more profitable vehicles beyond Ford's current planning assumption, particularly in the United States;

•	An increase in or continued volatility of fuel prices, or reduced availability of fuel;

•	Continued or increased price competition resulting from industry excess capacity, currency fluctuations, or other factors;

•	Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates;

•	Adverse effects resulting from economic, geopolitical, or other events;

•	Economic distress of suppliers that may require Ford to provide substantial financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components or materials and could increase costs, affect liquidity, or cause production constraints or disruptions;

•	Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other limitations on production (whether as a result of labor disputes, natural or man-made disasters, tight credit markets or other financial distress, production constraints or difficulties, or other factors);

•	Single-source supply of components or materials;

•	Labor or other constraints on Ford's ability to maintain competitive cost structure;

•	Substantial pension and postretirement health care and life insurance liabilities impairing our liquidity or financial condition;

•	Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates or investment returns);

•	Restriction on use of tax attributes from tax law "ownership change;"

•	The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns, or increased warranty costs;

•	Increased safety, emissions, fuel economy, or other regulations resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions;

•	Unusual or significant litigation, governmental investigations, or adverse publicity arising out of alleged defects in products, perceived environmental impacts, or otherwise;

•	A change in requirements under long-term supply arrangements committing Ford to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller ("take-or-pay" contracts);

•	Adverse effects on results from a decrease in or cessation or clawback of government incentives related to investments;

•	Inherent limitations of internal controls impacting financial statements and safeguarding of assets;

•	Cybersecurity risks to operational systems, security systems, or infrastructure owned by Ford, Ford Credit, or a third-party vendor or supplier;

•	Failure of financial institutions to fulfill commitments under committed credit and liquidity facilities;

•	Inability of Ford Credit to access debt, securitization, or derivative markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts, due to credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption, regulatory requirements, or other factors;

•	Higher-than-expected credit losses, lower-than-anticipated residual values, or higher-than-expected return volumes for leased vehicles;

•	Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles; and

•	New or increased credit, consumer, or data protection or other regulations resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions.

•	At 9 a.m. EDT, Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO, and Bob Shanks, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the 2013 first quarter financial results.

•	At 11 a.m. EDT, Neil Schloss, Ford vice president and treasurer, Stuart Rowley, Ford vice president and controller, and Mike Seneski, chief financial officer, Ford Motor Credit Company, will host a conference call for fixed income analysts and investors.