CHENNAI, India, July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Ford, with two plants in Chennai, India, is first automaker to sign on to voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program for all industries established by India-based organizations
• Ford already voluntarily reports greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina
• Reporting CO₂ emissions is part of one facet of Ford's broad approach to cutting greenhouse gases, which includes reducing emissions at global facilities 30 percent per vehicle by 2025

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is taking another major step toward helping stabilize carbon dioxide emissions globally, today becoming the first automaker to join a voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program recently established in India.

Participation in the India program builds on Ford's leadership in greenhouse gas reporting – the company already participates in similar programs in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Voluntary reporting provides overall transparency regarding the company's CO₂ emissions and underscores the importance of the issue to Ford, which has a goal of reducing CO₂ emissions at its global facilities, including two in Chennai, India, by 30 percent per vehicle by 2025.

"Ford is pleased to be the first automaker to participate in the voluntary India greenhouse gas reporting program," said Andy Hobbs, director of the company's environmental quality office. "We look forward to sharing our knowledge and helping to establish greenhouse gas reporting in India."

India's program is a joint effort between the World Resources Institute, The Energy and Resources Institute and the Confederation of Indian Industry. As the first automaker to participate in the program, Ford's role will be to assist in the establishment of credible and verifiable greenhouse gas inventories.

"Ford India is committed to bringing fuel-efficient and safe vehicles to India that our customers want and value. And we are growing our manufacturing capabilities in India in an environmentally responsible way as part of our One Ford plan," said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India. "Ford is proud to be the first automotive company to join the voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program in India, and this is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to sustainability of manufacturing operations globally."

Ford operates a manufacturing plant that produces the Ford Figo, Ford Fiesta, Ford Classic, Ford Endeavour and Ford EcoSport, and an engine plant that produces 17 variants of gasoline and diesel engines. A vehicle assembly and engine plant complex are under construction in Sanand, Gujarat.

The Chennai facilities are equipped to reuse 100 percent of wastewater generated. The assembly plant has reduced water use 30 percent per vehicle produced in the last three years and reduced energy consumption 10 percent per vehicle produced.

"Indian Industry has set a powerful precedent in the region, by collaboratively engaging on a multi-stakeholder platform to take the next leap on GHG measurement and management. The program would strive to promote climate stewardship and innovation that would merge core business benefits along with environmental and social agenda," says Vivek P. Adhia, Senior Associate – Climate & Energy, WRI India.

Taking CO₂ reductions further

Ford has developed products, technologies and processes at its facilities that are designed to reduce emissions and help the company meet its own targets, while also doing its part to help keep CO₂ levels in the earth's atmosphere at or below 450 parts per million. Leading scientists, businesses and governmental agencies say this is a goal that must be met to avoid the most serious effects on climate change.

Already, total CO₂ emissions at Ford's global facilities have dropped 47 percent, or by 4.65 million metric tons, since 2000. The company continues investing in processes and equipment aimed at further reductions.

For example, Ford is expanding its 3-Wet paint capacity by 50 percent this year – adding the process to four more plants on three continents. Using this environmentally friendly process, which streamlines the painting process, is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 25 percent. Ford India's Chennai manufacturing plant was the company's first to use the advanced process, and enough energy has been saved to power nearly 12,000 households in Chennai for a year, or light up all street lights in the city for about four months.

Reducing CO₂ emissions is a key component of Ford's 14^th annual sustainability report titled "Blueprint for Sustainability: Our Journey Continues." The entire report can be viewed here.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 175,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

About Ford in India

Established in 1995, Ford India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader. Ford India manufactures and distributes automobiles and engines made at its modern integrated manufacturing facilities at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai. The company's models include the Figo, Fiesta, Ford Classic, Endeavour, and the most recently launched Ford EcoSport. Ford's operations in the country also include Global Business Services, comprised of Ford Business Services Center and Ford Technology Services India. Located in Chennai, New Delhi and Coimbatore, these units support Ford globally in the areas of IT, accounting and finance, financial services and automotive operations support, global analytics and engineering services. Ford's businesses in India employ 11,500 hard-working, dedicated men and women.

For more information, visit www.india.ford.com

SOURCE Ford Motor Company