Growth of Auto Industry's Hottest Segment Paced by Ford Motor Company

* Sales of Ford Motor Company's crossover sport utility vehicles in first quarter 2005 totaled 80,376 - up 52 percent compared with first quarter 2004. * New products - Ford Freestyle and Mercury Mariner - vault Ford past Toyota into No. 2 position among all manufacturers in sales of crossover SUVs. * Ford Escape, bolstered by industry's first hybrid SUV, maintains its position as best-selling crossover SUV in America.

DEARBORN, Mich., April 27 -- The hottest segment in the U.S. automotive industry is the crossover sport utility segment where the growth at Ford Motor Company is outpacing the competition.

In the first quarter of 2005, Ford Motor Company's crossover sport utilities posted the largest sales increase among all manufacturers. Combined sales of crossover utilities at Ford totaled 80,376 -- up 52 percent compared with the first quarter 2004. This compares with industry-wide crossover utility growth of 15 percent in the same period. Ford has eclipsed Toyota and now ranks second in sales of vehicles classified by WardsAuto.com as cross/utility vehicles.

Two new models, Ford Freestyle and Mercury Mariner, played important roles in Ford's sales increase. The Ford Freestyle had first quarter sales of 15,922, while the Mercury Mariner added sales of 8,218. Both models achieved their highest monthly sales to date in March.

The national rollout of a new hybrid version helped the Ford Escape post a sales increase of 7 percent in the first quarter and maintain its position as America's best-selling crossover utility. The Escape posted record first quarter sales of 44,099, including 3,569 hybrid models. The "no compromise" Ford Escape Hybrid is the world's first hybrid SUV and the cleanest and most fuel-efficient sport utility vehicle.

"Our new models are helping Ford to meet the growing demand for crossover SUVs," said Greg Smith, Ford's president - of the Americas, "and we are planning to increase the number of crossover offerings in the future."

In addition to the Ford Escape, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Mariner, the company's Volvo unit offers two crossover/utility vehicles -- the rugged XC70 Cross Country and award-winning XC90. According to WardsAuto.com, there presently are 34 nameplates offered by 14 manufacturers in the cross/utility vehicle category.