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Ford Set to Re-Enter Philippine Market

10 April 1998

Ford Set to Re-Enter Philippine Market

    WASHINGTON, April 10 -- When Ford Motor Company
withdrew from the Philippines, the Ford Fiera utility vehicle was the market
leader.
    Now, Ford is moving ahead with plans to manufacture vehicles in the
Philippines next year and hopes to regain its former position, said Wayne
Booker, Ford vice chairman.
    "Under the leadership of President Ramos, the Philippines has exhibited
the political and economic stability that gives us the confidence to make this
investment," Booker said.  "The Philippine people want reliable, high-quality
vehicles and superior service.  We plan to deliver that.  And if we do, the
customer will be the big winner and we will be successful as well."
    Ford will invest about $100 million in the Philippine manufacturing
complex which will include an assembly plant capable of producing at least
three different bodystyles.  Groundbreaking will take place this month in
Santa Rosa, 45 kilometers south of Manila.  In addition, several component
supplier plants will join Ford in the Laguna Automotive Technology Park.
    The plant, which will open in the fall in 1999, will produce the Ford
Ranger pickup truck, the Laser passenger car and the Econovan commercial
truck.
    The project is part of Ford's "reasoned investment" approach to the
world's growth markets, Booker said.  The premise:  build assembly plants
where we sell vehicles with sufficient capacity to meet today's market demands
with the flexibility to expand efficiently to meet the demands of tomorrow.
    The Philippines is the latest Asian growth market targeted by Ford.  In
1996-97, Ford and its joint venture partners opened plants in China, India and
Vietnam, and increased its participation in a joint venture in Malaysia.
    Later this year, Ford will begin manufacturing and selling the Ford Ranger
in Thailand and will export to Asia-Pacific and European markets in 1999.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company