First You Go This Way - Then You Go That Way - Lincoln Mercury To Re-Relocate Headquarters To Michigan

IRVINE, Calif. -November 8, 2002; Dow Jones is reporting that Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln Mercury division plans to move its headquarters to Dearborn, Mich., from Irvine, Calif.

Ford, which is based in Dearborn, has about 90 Lincoln Mercury employees in Irvine.

The No. 2 automaker said in a press release Friday that Lincoln Mercury and the Ford division now share more "back-end" functions, as well as many dealers around the country.

The first part of the move is slated for July with the final move set for August.

"A move will bring Lincoln Mercury to the heart of Ford Motor Co. where we'll tap into synergies to grow both brands," Lincoln Mercury President Darryl Hazel said in the statement.

Earlier Friday, Ford said it postponed a conference call about the status of its pension plans until Thursday. The call had been set for Monday