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Ford's 2002 Operating Results Improve By $1.7 Billion Vs. Prior Year

Ford's 2002 Operating Results Improve By $1.7 Billion Vs. Prior Year

    -- Full-year profit of 47 cents per share, excluding unusual items.
    -- Fourth-quarter profit of 8 cents per share, excluding unusual items.
    -- Full-year Ford Credit profit of $1.38 billion, excluding unusual items.
    -- Positive full-year automotive cash flow, excluding tax refunds.
    -- Strong liquidity with $25 billion of automotive gross cash.
    -- Exceeded 2002 non-product cost reduction milestone of $2 billion.

    DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Ford Motor Company today reported a net loss, including unusual
items and results from discontinued operations, of $980 million, or 55 cents
per share, for full-year 2002.
    On an operating basis, Ford earned $872 million, or 47 cents per share, in
2002.  This excludes charges related to Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard (SFAS) Nos. 142 and 133, the sale of Kwik-Fit, restructuring actions
and other unusual items not related to results from discontinued operations.
    In 2001, Ford reported a net loss of $5.45 billion, or $3.02 per share.
Excluding charges for restructuring actions and other unusual items in 2001,
the loss was $782 million, or 44 cents per share.
    Revenue for 2002 was $162.6 billion, up more than 1 percent from $160.8
billion a year ago.  Vehicle unit sales were 6,980,000, down slightly from
7,008,000 in 2001.
    "In the first year of our turnaround, Ford improved its operating results
by about $1.7 billion," said Chairman and CEO Bill Ford.  "Our earnings
performance demonstrates that we are making solid progress toward the goals
outlined in our Revitalization Plan.  In 2002, we exceeded nearly all our
commitments and are on track to reach our mid-decade target of an annual
$7 billion pre-tax operating profit."
    Ford realized success in a number of areas throughout 2002:
    -- Overall quality performance and customer satisfaction improved by all
internal and external measures, in all major regions.
    -- U.S. retail share improved during the year.
    -- Ford Credit improved its operating results, lowered its leverage and
paid $450 million in dividends, net of the January 2002 capital contribution.
    -- Ford Motor Company has the world's best-selling car (Ford Focus), truck
(F-Series) and SUV (Explorer).
    -- Ford was the best-selling brand of cars and trucks in the U.S. for the
16th year in a row.
    -- The F-Series pickup was the top-selling truck for the 26th consecutive
year and the Ford Explorer was the industry's best-selling SUV in the U.S. for
the 12th year in a row.
    -- Jaguar had its fourth consecutive record sales year in the U.S., with
year-over-year sales improvement of 37 percent, and Land Rover enjoyed a U.S.
sales record in 2002 with sales up 51 percent.
    -- Products such as the Ford Thunderbird, Ford F-Series Super Duty,
Lincoln Town Car and Volvo XC90 received accolades from customers and awards
from a number of third-party sources.
    "Now, as we move into 2003, we are accelerating our efforts.  As we just
demonstrated at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we have
a lot of exciting new products coming and we are well on our way to the
product-led recovery we've been talking about for the last 12 months," said
Mr. Ford.
    Ford Motor Company, in its centennial year, will introduce an all-new
F-150 pickup truck with five differentiated series that will span the full
range of consumer wants and needs.  In addition, Ford Motor Company will
introduce new minivans for the Ford and Mercury brands in North America, the
Ford Transit Connect (commercial vehicle) and the Ford StreetKa (Ford's first
European two-seat roadster) in Europe, and an all-new Jaguar XJ sedan.  The
first units of the Ford GT high-performance sports car also will be produced
this summer.

    FOURTH QUARTER
    Ford reported a net loss of $130 million, or 7 cents per share, for the
fourth quarter of 2002.  This is an improvement from 2001 of $4.9 billion
($2.74 per share).  Excluding charges for restructuring actions and other
unusual items, Ford earned $150 million, or 8 cents per share.  This is an
improvement from 2001 of $1 billion (56 cents per share).
    The non-recurring restructuring actions include primarily:
    -- Reduction of 950 positions at Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo;
    -- Genk (Belgium) rationalization and transfer of Transit production to
Ford Otosan in Turkey;
    -- Improvements in Cologne (Germany) as a result of restructuring die-
casting and forging operations, and other manufacturing actions.
    Total revenue in the fourth quarter was $41.6 billion, up $869 million
from a year ago, despite a decline in the number of units sold.  Worldwide
vehicle unit sales fell slightly in the fourth quarter to 1,791,000 from
1,813,000 a year ago.
    The following discussion of fourth-quarter and full-year results excludes
unusual items and includes results from discontinued operations in both years.
The discontinued operations resulted from holding certain non-core businesses
for sale.  These include primarily Ford's automotive recycling business in the
U.S., the TH!NK electric vehicle business and the all-makes fleet leasing
business in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

    AUTOMOTIVE OPERATIONS
    Ford's worldwide automotive operations posted a loss of $539 million,
compared with a loss of $1.96 billion in 2001.  Worldwide automotive revenue
was $134.4 billion, an increase of nearly three percent versus a year ago.
    In the fourth quarter, Ford's worldwide automotive operations incurred a
loss of $191 million on revenue of $34.7 billion, compared with a loss of
$803 million on revenue of $33.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2001.
    Automotive gross cash at Dec. 31, 2002 totaled $25.3 billion, including
$2.7 billion of pre-funding for employee benefit expenses through a Voluntary
Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust.  Gross cash exceeded automotive
debt by $11.1 billion at year-end, $7.2 billion better than at Dec. 31, 2001.
The company's full-year automotive operating cash flow, excluding tax refunds,
was positive.
    North America: The loss in 2002 for Ford's automotive operations in North
America was $559 million on revenue of $94.1 billion.  In 2001, those
operations had a loss of $2.15 billion on revenue of $90.8 billion.  The full-
year improvement was primarily a result of the non-recurrence of costs
associated with the customer safety initiative to replace Firestone tires and
the re-stocking of dealer inventories, which were well below an optimal level
at the end of 2001.
    In the fourth quarter, Ford's North America automotive operations posted a
loss of $124 million, compared with a loss of $916 million a year ago.  The
improvement reflected better cost performance, net revenue and mix, offset
partially by lower volume.  Revenue was $23.3 billion, compared with $23.2
billion in 2001.
    Europe: In Europe, Ford's automotive operations earned $12 million during
the full year in 2002, compared with a profit of $266 million in 2001.
Revenue was $32.1 billion, an increase from $31.9 billion a year ago.
    Automotive operations in Europe incurred a loss of $139 million on revenue
of $9.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2002.  This compares with a fourth
quarter 2001 profit of $61 million on revenue of $8.5 billion.  The decline in
earnings for both the fourth quarter and full year reflected a leaner product
mix and lower dealer stocks, offset partially by higher market share.
    South America: Ford automotive operations in South America incurred a loss
of $296 million during full-year 2002, compared with the full-year loss of
$225 million in 2001, more than explained by the effects of currency
devaluation.  Revenue was $1.6 billion, down from $2.2 billion in 2001.
    Fourth quarter 2002 losses were $11 million on revenue of $354 million.
This compares with a fourth quarter 2001 loss of $46 million on revenue of
$466 million.
    Rest-of-world: Ford's automotive operations in the rest of the world
earned a full-year profit in 2002 of $304 million, compared with $156 million
in 2001.  The improvement reflected better performance at Mazda and Ford's
Asia-Pacific operations.  Revenue in 2002 was $6.6 billion, up $700 million
from 2001.
    In the fourth quarter of 2002, profits were $83 million, down from
earnings of $98 million in 2001.  Revenue was $1.8 billion compared to
$1.5 billion during the same time period in 2001.

    FORD CREDIT
    Ford Motor Credit Company reported earnings of $1.38 billion in 2002, up
$175 million from a profit of $1.2 billion a year ago.  Return on equity was
9 percent in 2002, compared with 7 percent in 2001.  The increase in earnings
reflected primarily a lower provision for credit losses, offset partially by
the net unfavorable impact of receivables sales and lower net financing
margins.  The provision for credit losses in 2002 was $3 billion, compared
with $3.4 billion in 2001.  At year end, the allowance for credit losses was
$3.2 billion -- 2.47 percent of end-of-period receivables.
    In the fourth quarter of 2002, Ford Credit earned $382 million, up
$376 million from the same period a year earlier.  The improvement reflected a
lower provision for credit losses and the net favorable impact of receivables
sales, offset partially by lower net financing margins.
    Ford Credit paid a dividend to Ford Motor Company of $700 million in
December.  For the full year, Ford Credit's dividends, net of a January 2002
capital contribution, were $450 million.

    HERTZ
    Hertz reported full-year 2002 earnings of $127 million, up from $23
million in 2001.  Hertz earned $16 million in the fourth quarter, compared to
a loss of $58 million in the fourth quarter of 2001.  The full-year and
fourth-quarter improvements when compared to 2001 reflected increases in
pricing and cost reductions.

    OUTLOOK
    "Although the outlook for the U.S. economy continues to be uncertain, we
are looking for 2003 to be another good year for car and truck sales," said
Allan Gilmour, Ford vice chairman and chief financial officer.  "Throughout
this year, Ford Motor Company will remain focused on improving total cost and
will accelerate its implementation of the key Revitalization Plan elements.  I
am pleased with the significant progress we made in 2002, and I am confident
that our progress will continue into 2003 and beyond."
    Ford is estimating that industry demand will be about 16.5 million
vehicles in the U.S.  Its North American production plans call for producing
1,035,000 cars and trucks in the first quarter -- up 25,000 units from
production plans released earlier this month.
    Investors can hear a review of fourth quarter and full-year 2002 results
by Bill Ford, Allan Gilmour and President and Chief Operating Officer Nick
Scheele on the Internet at http://www.shareholder.ford.com or http://www.streetevents.com .
The presentation will begin at 9 a.m. EST, Jan. 21.
    Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, is the world's
second largest automaker, with approximately 335,000 employees in 200 markets
on six continents.  Its automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar,
Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo.  Its automotive-related
services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz.  Ford Motor Company will
officially observe its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.

    Statements included or incorporated by reference herein may constitute
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those stated, including, without limitation:
    -- greater price competition in the U.S. and Europe resulting from
currency fluctuations, industry overcapacity or other factors;
    -- a significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the U.S. or
Europe, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events or other
factors;
    -- lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
    -- work stoppages at key Ford or supplier facilities or other
interruptions of supplies;
    -- 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 regulation resulting
in higher costs and/or sales restrictions;
    -- unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations
arising out of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
    -- worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our post-
retirement benefit plans (e.g., investment returns, interest rates, health
care cost trends, benefit improvements);
    -- currency or commodity price fluctuations;
    -- a market shift from truck sales in the U.S.;
    -- economic difficulties in South America or Asia;
    -- reduced availability of or higher prices for fuel;
    -- labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
    -- a change in our requirements under long-term supply arrangements under
which we are obligated to purchase minimum quantities or pay minimum amounts;
    -- a further credit rating downgrade;
    -- inability to access debt or securitization markets around the world at
competitive rates or in sufficient amounts;
    -- higher-than-expected credit losses;
    -- lower-than-anticipated residual values for leased vehicles;
    -- increased price competition in the rental car industry and/or a general
decline in business or leisure travel due to terrorist attacks, act of war or
measures taken by governments in response thereto that negatively affect the
travel industry; and
    -- our inability to implement the Revitalization Plan.


                     Ford Motor Company and Subsidiaries
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
               For the Periods Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001
                                (in millions)

                                       Fourth Quarter            Full Year
                                     2002        2001        2002        2001
                                        (unaudited)             (unaudited)
    AUTOMOTIVE
    Sales                         $34,661     $33,593    $134,425    $130,827

    Costs and expenses
    Costs of sales                 32,401      37,200     125,137     128,417
    Selling, administrative
     and other expenses             2,679       2,707       9,819       9,805
      Total costs and expenses     35,080      39,907     134,956     138,222

    Operating income/(loss)          (419)     (6,314)       (531)     (7,395)

    Interest income                   173         149         834         765
    Interest expense                  331         372       1,368       1,376
      Net interest income/(expense)  (158)       (223)       (534)       (611)
    Equity in net income/
     (loss) of affiliated companies     6        (170)        (91)       (856)

    Income/(loss) before
     income taxes - Automotive       (571)     (6,707)     (1,156)     (8,862)

    FINANCIAL SERVICES
    Revenues                        6,919       7,118      28,161      29,927

    Costs and expenses
    Interest expense                1,715       2,134       7,456       9,441
    Depreciation                    2,609       2,583      10,240      10,164
    Operating and other expenses    1,248       1,337       5,080       5,221
    Provision for credit and
     insurance losses                 753       1,527       3,276       3,661
      Total costs and expenses      6,325       7,581      26,052      28,487

    Income/(loss) before
     income taxes -
     Financial Services               594        (463)      2,109       1,440

    TOTAL COMPANY
    Income/(loss) before
     income taxes                      23      (7,170)        953      (7,422)
    Provision for/(benefit from)
     income taxes                     (48)     (2,130)        302      (2,097)
    Income/(loss) before
     minority interests                71      (5,040)        651      (5,325)
    Minority interests in net
     income/(loss) of subsidiaries     82          (9)        367          24
    Income/(loss) from
     continuing operations            (11)     (5,031)        284      (5,349)
    Cumulative effect of change
     in accounting principle            -           -      (1,002)          -
    Income/(loss) from discontinued/
     held-for-sale operations         (15)        (37)        (63)       (104)
    Loss on disposal of
     discontinued/held-for-sale
     operations                      (104)          -        (199)          -
    Net income/(loss)               $(130)    $(5,068)      $(980)    $(5,453)
    Income/(loss) attributable to
     Common and Class B Stock
     after Preferred Stock
     dividends                      $(134)    $(5,072)      $(995)    $(5,468)

    Average number of shares of
     Common and Class B
     Stock outstanding              1,833       1,810       1,819       1,820

    AMOUNTS PER SHARE OF COMMON
     AND CLASS B STOCK
    Basic income
     Income/(loss) from
      continuing operations        $(0.01)     $(2.79)      $0.15      $(2.96)
     Cumulative effect of change
      in accounting principle           -           -       (0.55)          -
     Income/(loss) from
      discontinued/held-for-sale
      operations                    (0.01)      (0.02)      (0.04)      (0.06)
     Loss on disposal of
      discontinued/held-for-sale
      operations                    (0.05)          -       (0.11)          -
     Net income/(loss)             $(0.07)     $(2.81)     $(0.55)     $(3.02)
    Diluted income
     Income/(loss) from
      continuing operations        $(0.01)     $(2.79)      $0.15      $(2.96)
     Cumulative effect of change
      in accounting principle           -           -       (0.55)          -
     Income/(loss) from
      discontinued/held-for-sale
      operations                    (0.01)      (0.02)      (0.03)      (0.06)
     Loss on disposal of
      discontinued/held-for-sale
      operations                    (0.05)          -       (0.11)          -
     Net income/(loss)             $(0.07)     $(2.81)     $(0.54)     $(3.02)

    Cash dividends                  $0.10       $0.15       $0.40       $1.05


                     Ford Motor Company and Subsidiaries
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                       As of December 31, 2002 and 2001
                                (in millions)

                                                        2002         2001
    ASSETS                                           (unaudited)  (unaudited)
    Automotive
    Cash and cash equivalents                          $5,180       $4,064
    Marketable securities                              17,464       10,949
       Total cash and marketable securities            22,644       15,013

    Receivables, net                                    2,065        2,181
    Inventories                                         6,980        6,127
    Deferred income taxes                               3,462        2,595
    Other current assets                                4,551        6,153
    Current receivable from Financial Services          1,062          938
       Total current assets                            40,764       33,007

    Equity in net assets of affiliated companies        2,470        2,450
    Net property                                       36,364       33,022
    Deferred income taxes                              11,694        5,981
    Goodwill                                            4,805        5,213
    Other intangible assts                                812        1,125
    Other assets                                       10,783        7,153
    Assets of discontinued and
     held-for-sale operations                              98          368
       Total Automotive assets                        107,790       88,319

    Financial Services
    Cash and cash equivalents                          $7,070       $3,133
    Investments in securities                             807          628
    Finance receivables, net                           96,910      110,190
    Net investment in operating leases                 40,055       45,388
    Retained interest in sold receivables              17,618       12,548
    Goodwill                                              752        1,042
    Other intangible assts                                248          223
    Other assets                                       16,763        9,224
    Assets of discontinued and
     held-for-sale operations                           2,406        2,136
    Receivable from Automotive                          4,803        3,712
       Total Financial Services assets                187,432      188,224

       Total assets                                  $295,222     $276,543

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Automotive
    Trade payables                                    $14,606      $15,620
    Other payables                                      2,485        4,224
    Accrued liabilities                                27,557       24,258
    Debt payable within one year                          557          302
       Total current liabilities                       45,205       44,404

    Long-term debt                                     13,607       13,467
    Other liabilities                                  46,886       30,873
    Deferred income taxes                                 303          362
    Liabilities of discontinued and
     held-for-sale operations                             225          162
    Payable to Financial Services                       4,803        3,712
       Total Automotive liabilities                   111,029       92,980

    Financial Services
    Payables                                            2,724        1,484
    Debt                                              148,058      153,034
    Deferred income taxes                              11,644        9,686
    Other liabilities and deferred income               8,614        9,165
    Liabilities of discontinued and
     held for sale operations                             831          798
    Payable to Automotive                               1,062          938
       Total Financial Services liabilities           172,933      175,105

    Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
     preferred securities of a subsidiary
     trusts holding solely junior subordinated
     debentures of the Company                          5,670          672

    Stockholders' equity
    Capital stock
     Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share
      (aggregate liquidation preference
      of $177 million)                                      *            *
     Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
      (1,837 million shares issued)                        18           18
     Class B Stock, par value $0.01 per share
      (71 million shares issued)                            1            1
    Capital in excess of par value of stock             5,420        6,001
    Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)      (6,531)      (5,913)
    Treasury stock                                     (1,977)      (2,823)
    Earnings retained for use in business               8,659       10,502
       Total stockholders' equity                       5,590        7,786

       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity    $295,222     $276,543

    - - - - -
    *Less than $1 million


                     Ford Motor Company and Subsidiaries
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
               For the Periods Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001
                                (in millions)


                                        2002                    2001

                               Automotive   Financial   Automotive   Financial
                                            Services                 Services
                                     (unaudited)               (unaudited)


    Cash and cash equivalents
     at January 1                $4,064       $3,133      $3,360       $1,417

    Cash flows from operating
     activities before
     securities trading           9,487       15,375       7,456       13,172
    Net sales/(purchases)
     of trading securities       (6,206)         (23)      1,143          120
       Net cash flows from
        operating activities      3,281       15,352       8,599       13,292

    Cash flows from
     investing activities
     Capital expenditures        (6,776)        (502)     (6,301)        (651)
     Acquisitions of other
      companies                       -            -           -         (737)
     Acquisitions of receivables
      and lease investments           -      (81,806)          -      (94,061)
     Collections of receivables
      and lease investments           -       45,777           -       45,110
     Net acquisitions of
      daily rental vehicles           -       (1,846)          -       (1,412)
     Purchases of securities     (3,446)        (609)    (12,489)        (734)
     Sales and maturities
      of securities               3,445          479      13,866          759
     Proceeds from sales of
      receivables and
      lease investments               -       41,289           -       41,419
     Proceeds from sale
      of businesses                 257            -           -            -
     Net investing activity
      with Financial Services     1,053            -         186            -
     Cash paid for acquisitions    (289)           -      (1,998)           -
     Other                            -          407         367          250
       Net cash (used in)/
        provided by investing
        activities               (5,756)       3,189      (6,369)     (10,057)

    Cash flows from
     financing activities
     Cash dividends                (743)           -      (1,929)           -
     Net sales/(purchases)
      of Common Stock               287            -      (1,385)           -
     Proceeds from mandatorily
      redeemable convertible
      preferred securities        4,900            -           -            -
     Preferred Stock -
      Series B redemption          (177)           -           -            -
     Changes in short-term debt     (25)     (14,136)         38      (18,274)
     Proceeds from issuance
      of other debt                 318       15,524       2,063       44,193
     Principal payments
      on other debt                (859)     (15,760)     (1,122)     (26,204)
     Net financing activity
      with Automotive                 -       (1,053)          -         (186)
     Other                          (23)         361         261         (249)
       Net cash (used in)/
        provided by financing
        activities                3,678      (15,064)     (2,074)        (720)

    Effect of exchange rate
     changes on cash                 37          336        (101)        (151)
    Net transactions with
     Automotive/Financial
     Services                      (124)         124         649         (649)

       Net increase in cash
        and cash equivalents      1,116        3,937         704        1,716

    Cash and cash equivalents
     at December 31              $5,180       $7,070      $4,064       $3,133