---

Lorain and Ohio Assembly Plants Produce 5-Millionth Ford Econoline

10 February 1998

Lorain and Ohio Assembly Plants Produce 5-Millionth Ford Econoline

    *  Econoline:  America's best-selling full-size van for 19 years
    *  5-millionth Econoline powered by environmentally friendly natural gas

    AVON LAKE, Ohio, Feb. 10 -_ Ford Motor Company and
UAW team members today produced the 5-millionth Econoline jointly built by
Ford's Lorain Assembly and Ohio Assembly plants.
    Employees at both plants celebrated today after the 5-millionth Econoline,
an E-350-model powered by a natural gas 5.4-liter Triton(TM) V-8 engine, made
its way down assembly lines at each plant.
    "Building our 5-millionth Ford Econoline is a special accomplishment for
both plants, the UAW and our suppliers," said Ron Reaves, plant manager,
Lorain and Ohio Assembly Plants.  "Through the dedicated efforts of workers at
both plants, the Econoline has been the best selling full-size van for 19
consecutive years.  This outstanding record demonstrates our commitment to
quality and determination to satisfy our customers."
    The two plants have jointly produced Econoline vans and chassis cabs since
1974, beginning with the 1975 model year.  Lorain Assembly began production of
the Econoline in 1960, as a 1961 model.
    More than 6 million Econoline vans and chassis cabs have been sold since
the vehicle's introduction as a van, wagon and pickup truck in 1960.
Econoline has been the best-selling full-size van in the United States since
1979.  In 1997, Econoline had a 49.4 percent share of its segment, while its
sales were up 6 percent over 1996.  It also has the highest quality and owner
loyalty in its class*.
    Econoline's almost immediate acceptance was due to uses such as Bell
Telephone's service installation fleet.  Since the 1960s, the Econoline has
become the van of choice for many of America's commercial fleets, and it also
has become the favorite full-size van for family vacations.
    "Where there's a job that needs doing, chances are there's a Ford
Econoline doing it," said Mickey Matus, Econoline brand manager.  "Whether it
be on a construction site, at animal shelters, getting flowers to their
destination on time, or taking a family vacation, America's come to depend on
Econoline because it gets the job done."
    Econoline's production process begins at Ohio Assembly, where vehicle
bodies are assembled and then painted.  Five bodies at a time are loaded onto
covered semi-trailers for transportation to Lorain Assembly 17 miles away.  At
Lorain, Econoline chassis are constructed, the vehicle body is assembled onto
the chassis, vehicle trim components are added and a completed Econoline is
the result.
    The Ohio Assembly Plant has 3,260 employees and Lorain has 1,630
employees; both plants built 210,761 Econolines in 1997.  In addition to
Econoline production, Ohio Assembly also builds the Mercury Villager and the
Nissan Quest.

    * Based on '93-'97 Ford New Vehicle Customer Survey

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company