Ford Motor Company Aids California Fire Recovery Effort with Trucks, Funds, Volunteers and Payment Relief

- Ford Motor Company donates trucks and SUVs to Southern California fire departments

- Ford Motor Company Fund contributes $100,000 to San Diego Red Cross

- Ford Volunteer Corps will assist in ongoing the recovery effort

- Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers impacted by the wildfires the opportunity to delay some vehicle payments

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 25 -- Ford Motor Company today pledged to assist in the wildfire relief and recovery efforts in Southern California through the donation of money, vehicles and volunteer manpower. In addition, Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers impacted by the wildfires the opportunity to delay some vehicle payments.

Ford Motor Company immediately is donating 20 specially equipped vehicles -- 11 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks and nine Ford Expedition sport utility vehicles - to fire and rescue departments in some of the areas most devastated by the fires.

"Many Southern California Ford employees and Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers share the concerns of their neighbors as they also have been affected by this devastating fire," said Hal Dewsnap, Ford Lincoln Mercury Los Angeles regional manager. "Local fire and rescue officials told us they have an urgent need for heavy duty work trucks and SUVs. We located the 20 specially equipped vehicles at local dealerships and they are on their way to local fire and rescue squads."

Additionally, Ford Motor Company Fund is contributing $100,000 to the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts.

"The San Diego Chapter Red Cross has a critical need for medical, food, water and other supplies, as well as counseling support for hundreds of residents forced from their homes," said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund. "We are responding to this need immediately."

Longer term, Ford employees in Southern California will be called upon to volunteer time to assist in community recovery and relief efforts through Ford Volunteer Corps, a corporate-wide program established by Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford after the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

In addition, Ford Motor Credit announced today that it would offer some payment relief to customers impacted by the wildfires through the Ford Credit Disaster Relief Program. The program allows customers to delay one or two monthly payments, resuming their regular payment schedules when their situations improve.

The offer is available to customers who are leasing or have purchased vehicles from Ford Credit, Jaguar Credit, Land Rover Capital, Mazda American Credit, PRIMUS or Volvo Car Finance. Ford Motor Credit customers who are eligible for the Disaster Relief Program will be sent letters with instructions on how to register.

Customers also may call the toll-free number listed for their brand to register for the Ford Motor Credit Disaster Relief Program:

  -- Ford Credit: 1-800-723-4016
  -- Jaguar Credit: 1-800-945-7000
  -- Land Rover Capital Group: 1-877-507-2264
  -- Mazda American Credit: 1-800-945-4000
  -- PRIMUS Financial Services: 1-800-945-4000
  -- Volvo Car Finance: 1-800-770-8234

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, 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.