Ford Gives Excellence Awards To 38 Global Suppliers for 2000 Performance

    DEARBORN, Mich., March 21 Ford Motor Company
last night awarded its highest supplier recognition -- the World Excellence
Award -- to 38 suppliers for their superior performance in 2000.

    In a ceremony at the Detroit Opera House, the awards were presented for
the third year.  The winners and about 160 of Ford's largest production and
non-production suppliers attended the event.  Lights, music and videos were
geared to the event's theme of "energizing" suppliers.  The event also was
Webcast to the winning suppliers and to Ford employees globally.

    The World Excellence Award provides annual recognition based on quality,
cost and delivery metrics jointly developed by Ford and its suppliers.  The 38
suppliers from 14 countries won awards in various categories.

    "Our suppliers who are winners of the World Excellence Award are one of
Ford's most valuable assets," said Carlos Mazzorin, Ford group vice president
of Global Purchasing and South America.  "Without their efforts, we could not
have achieved many of our goals in 2000.

    "The awards are becoming a tradition in our company and with our
suppliers.  They emphasize that Ford's quest for excellence cannot be
accomplished without its suppliers," he added.

    There are four different types of World Excellence Awards.

    The Platinum Award is for the parent company of suppliers with multiple
businesses that excel in all target areas -- quality, cost and delivery -- in
all of its units.  No suppliers won the Platinum Award this year.

    The Gold Award is given to suppliers that excel in all three areas;
Seventeen suppliers won the Gold Award, an increase over last year's 11
winners.

    The Silver Award is given to suppliers that stand out in quality and
delivery or quality and cost; Eight suppliers won the Silver award.

    A final category -- Recognition of Achievement -- is given to suppliers
who impact customer satisfaction by leading Ford key initiatives: High Mileage
Improvement, Warranty Reduction, Environmental Leadership and Consumer-Focused
Technology; Recognition of Achievements awards were given to 13 suppliers.

    Winners of the Gold Award are:

    Acumuladores, Moura S/A, Brazil - batteries
    AK Steel Corporation, United States - steel
    Aisin AW Co Ltd., Japan - automatic transmission
    Autoliv Argentina, Argentina - seat belts
    Delphi Automotive Systems Deutschland, Germany - electrical distribution
    Delta USA Corporation, United States - seats
    Eaton Corporation, United States - engine valves and tappets
    Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., China - automotive safety glass
    Hirotec Corporation, Japan - metal stampings and door assemblies
    International Forging Co., Ltd., Thailand - forgings
    JM Olson Corporation, United States - major construction
    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Japan - audio equipment
    Meridian Automotive Systems, United States - metal bumper beams
    Purolator - a division of ArvinMeritor, United States - air, fuel and oil
     filters
    Racional Engenharia Ltda., Brazil - construction, utilities and building
     services
    Sevex AG, Switzerland - stampings
    Tenneco Automotive Europe, Germany - exhaust systems

    Winners of the Silver Award are:

    Quality & Delivery
    AMP Springs Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia - suspension springs
    Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., Ltd., Taiwan - tires
    Delphi Chassis Systems, United States - clutch components
    Denso Corporation, United Kingdom - engine management
    Federal Mogul Sealing Systems, South Africa - gaskets
    Paulstra Iberica S.A., Spain - engine and transmission mounts
    Starlite Co., Ltd., Japan - exterior and interior trim components

    Quality & Cost
    ZF Lemforder Corporation/Nacam North America, United States, steering and
     suspension

    Winners of the Recognition of Achievements awards are:

    Alcoa Fujikura Ltd., United States
     Warranty Reduction Program
    Budd Company, United States
     Consumer Focused Technology
    Dana Corporation, United States
     Warranty Reduction Program
    Freudenberg-NOK, United States
     High Mileage Improvement
    INA Motorenelemente Schaeffler KG, Germany
     Environmental Leadership
    Johnson Controls, Inc., United States
     Warranty Reduction Program
    Lear Corporation, United Kingdom
     Consumer Focused Technology
    Methode Electronics Malta, Ltd., Malta
     High Mileage Improvement
    Motorola Inc., United States
     Environmental Leadership
    Siemens Automotive Corporation, Germany
     Warranty Reduction Program
    Summit Polymers Inc., United States
     High Mileage Improvement
    TRW Inc., United States
     Consumer Focused Technology
    Yazaki, United Kingdom
     Consumer Focused Technology