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Last Ford Aerostar Becomes a Police Vehicle

22 August 1997

Last Ford Aerostar Becomes a Police Vehicle

    HAZELWOOD, Mo., Aug. 22 -- The last Ford Aerostar, a white
extended-length Aerostar XLT, rolled off the line at Ford Motor Company's
St. Louis Assembly Plant today.  The vehicle -- the 2,029,577th
built since Aerostar production began at the plant 12 years ago -- was donated
to the Hazelwood Police Department for its community drug awareness outreach
efforts.
    "The Aerostar has been a fantastic product for Ford Motor Company for the
last dozen years, and I'm confident it will continue to provide excellent
value for the Hazelwood Police Department in the future," said St. Louis
Assembly Plant Manager Morris Wilson.  "We're very pleased the last Aerostar
will continue to serve the local community in which it was produced."
    Ford is discontinuing production of the Aerostar to adjust manufacturing
capacity to meet changing customer preferences.  There will be no impact on
employment levels at the St. Louis Assembly Plant because the company will
increase production of the popular Ford Explorer that is also produced there.
    "The Aerostar was first launched as the minivan market was developing in
the mid-1980s, and it became a requirement for many families, especially those
who needed to tow boats and trailers or wanted all-wheel-drive," Wilson said.
"But, with the advent of the Ford Windstar and Mercury Villager minivans, and
our broader range of sport utility vehicles with even better towing
capabilities, we can continue to serve our customers well."
    Aerostar production began in St. Louis on July 18, 1985.  On hand to mark
the historic occasion were Donald E. Petersen, then chairman of Ford Motor
Company, and John Ashcroft, who then was the governor of Missouri and now is a
United States senator.  Mr. Petersen described the venture as "the new Spirit
of St. Louis."
    In the early 1980s, Ford Motor Company had initiated its Employee
Involvement process and the benefits of those technological advancements and
people involvement programs were demonstrated in St. Louis as the plant geared
up for Aerostar production.  In all, St. Louis employees came up with nearly
300 methods of improving the product and production process.
    "Not only was the Aerostar a great product for Ford, it also was a
wonderful learning experience for the St. Louis plant management and employees
as we worked together to produce a world-class product," Wilson said.  "All
those lessons we learned continue in the plant today as we build Explorers."

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company