Ford Production and Sales Follow Green Path

LONDON - July 16, 2008: Green Ford manufacturing and sales at flagship sites in the company's East London heartland are expanding thanks to operations underpinned by sustainable technologies.

Demand for Dagenham-built low CO2 engines has triggered a steep rise in 1.4/1.6 diesel engine production and taken the site's output beyond 1,000,000 engines a year. Since 1.4/1.6 assembly began last year, around 500 manufacturing specialists have been recruited by the plant.

Nearby, Ford-owned Dagenham Motors has opened the company's greenest UK dealership – also featuring a wind turbine, plus rain water collection for car washing and the recycling of waste engine oil for heating. The £5.3 million complex includes a 16-vehicle showroom, forecourt space for over 200 cars and a 16-bay workshop.

ECOnetic engines from Ford Dagenham
Dagenham's 1.4 and 1.6 diesel engines are powering a surge in sales of Ford cars emitting less than 120g CO2/km. All 1.6-litre Ford Focus TDCi models fall under the benchmark, led by the new Ford Focus ECOnetic on 114g (1.6 engine with 90PS) and 115g (110PS).

The Focus 1.6 TDCi range, along with 1.4/1.6 diesel Fiesta plus 1.6 TDCi Fusion, are enjoying registrations up 38 per cent in the first half of 2008 compared with the same six months last year.

Once the 1.6-litre Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, to be shown at British International Motor Show, is added, Dagenham's small diesel engine production schedule climbs from 485,000 this year to 575,000 in 2009.

"Manufacturing, sales and service are embracing a common green vision," said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director. "They are both reflecting what's on motorists' minds –needing to minimise the cost and impact of motoring."

Ford Dagenham also builds a 1.8-litre TDCi for Ford Mondeo ECOnetic, which is capable of 53.3mpg while emitting only 139g CO2/km. The balance of Ford Dagenham's annual output comprises 2.0-, 2.2-, 2.4-, 2.7- and 3.6-litre diesel engines for Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover models.

Following the installation of wind turbines at Ford Dagenham in 2004, over 6,500 tonnes of CO2 a year have been are avoided by the site's existing two turbines.. A third turbine will be added in early 2009, which will enable Dagenham Diesel Centre to remain 100 per cent wind-powered.

Environmental sales and service
Less than three miles away, Dagenham Motors' new East London HQ also incorporates a wind turbine, a rainwater harvester providing water for car washing and sanitary use and a workshop heating system operating on waste engine oil. Latest wall and roof cladding further reduce energy consumption through improved insulation.

Dagenham Motors, together with all Ford dealerships in the UK, will offer service customers the option of offsetting their vehicles' CO2 from September this year. Ford will be the first auto manufacturer in the UK to launch this initiative spanning service intervals based on engine size and mileage. CO2 will be offset via BP's Targetneutral scheme.

New cars' CO2 emissions are highlighted to customers on an industry-wide fuel economy label displayed in all showrooms. At next week's London Motor Show, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership will report findings of its latest mystery shop, which found that Ford performed strongly with 92 per cent of Ford cars labelled.