Greening the Blue Oval: Ford Releases its 12th Annual Sustainability Report

DEARBORN, Mich., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• 12th annual Ford Sustainability Report shows progress on improving fuel economy and safety, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and water use, and operational sustainability

• Ford reduced CO(2) emissions from its global operations by 5.6 percent on a per-vehicle basis, compared to 2009.  The company also announced a goal to reduce facility CO(2) emissions by 30 percent by 2025 on a per-vehicle basis

• Ford invested billions in researching and developing new fuel-efficient products and now has 12 vehicles with best-in-class fuel economy and four models with at least 40 mpg – a claim no other full-line automaker can match

• Water has been included for the first time among top sustainability concerns for Ford; the company aims to reduce 2011 global water use by 5 percent per vehicle compared to 2010

Ford (NYSE: F) is offering the public a comprehensive look at the company's progress on environmental and social issues with the release of its 12th annual Sustainability Report.

The 2010/2011 report, titled "Blueprint for Sustainability: Driving Change," provides updates on the company's progress in key areas of operations, product enhancements on vehicle safety and societal concerns including water usage and supply chain management.  The report also designates areas in which the company deems as critical issues going forward.

"The Blueprint for Sustainability encompasses a wide range of efforts at Ford to provide sustainable transportation around the world," said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. "Ford is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products and facilities, supporting positive social change and ensuring economic viability for long-term growth."

Sustainable progress

During 2010 and early 2011, Ford achieved or committed to the following:

Environmental:

• Reduced CO(2) emissions from 2010 model year U.S. and European new vehicles by 10.5 percent and 8.1 percent, compared to the 2006 model year
• Reduced CO(2) emissions from Ford's global operations by 5.6 percent on a per-vehicle basis, compared to 2009
• Set a goal to reduce facility CO(2) emissions 30 percent by 2025 on a per-vehicle basis
• Offers 12 vehicles with best-in-class fuel economy and four models with at least 40 mpg – a claim no other full-line automaker can match
• Delivered initial units of Ford's first all-electric vehicle – Transit Connect Electric. In 2011, Focus Electric will be sold in 19 pilot U.S. markets. In 2012, Ford will begin producing C-MAX Hybrid, the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and another next-generation hybrid. The same suite of vehicles will be delivered in Europe by 2013

Safety:

• Announced that the 2011 Ford Fiesta was the first vehicle in its class to achieve an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick and leads its segment in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings
• The 2012 Focus earned a Top Safety Pick rating – the 12th Ford vehicle to do so – from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a maximum five-star overall safety rating in Euro NCAP tests.
• Invested $1 million to expand its Driving Skills for Life teen driver education program from nine to 15 states
• Continued its intelligent vehicle research that will allow cars to talk wirelessly with one another using advanced Wi-Fi signals, cellular technologies and global positioning systems to help reduce accidents and congestion

Societal:

• Listed water as one of the top sustainability concerns; Ford aims to reduce 2011 global water use by 5 percent per vehicle compared to 2010. This is in addition to the 49 percent per vehicle reduction since 2000.
• Trained suppliers in systemic solutions to working condition challenges and assessed 130 supplier factories around the world for compliance with Ford and legal requirements. Ford global totals now exceed 1,649 suppliers trained and 709 assessed
• Helped establish a common industry guidance and reporting format for greenhouse gas emissions to be used by global automakers and Tier 1 suppliers

In drafting the report, Ford worked with a team from Ceres, a coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organizations working with companies on sustainable business practices. The Ceres stakeholder team is an independent group of individuals drawn primarily from the Ceres coalition and represents a range of constituencies that have expertise in environmental, social and governance issues.

Ford issued its first Sustainability Report in 1999 to address the company's initiatives regarding social, economic and environmental issues. This year's complete report can be found at www.ford.com/go/sustainability.

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 166,000 employees and about 70 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's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company