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Study Indicates Ford Shows Quality Leadership

4 June 1998

Ford Shows Quality Leadership In 1998 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

          Expedition, Navigator, Escort and Tracer Lead Competition
          Lincoln Nameplate Ranks First in Truck Quality Ford Plants
                   Sweeps Top Three Spots in North America

    DEARBORN, Mich., June 3 -- J.D. Power & Associates announced
today that Ford Motor Company showed a substantial narrowing of the
gap with the quality leader, with three company vehicles ranked #1 in their
segments in this year's Initial Quality Study.
    Ford's assembly plants also set the standard for quality this year,
dominating the Plant Quality Awards with the three highest-ranked plants in
North America -- St. Thomas Assembly Plant in St. Thomas, Ontario; Chicago
Assembly Plant; and the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich.
    Ford has consistently shown positive results over the past several years.
Internal measures of initial quality have shown double digit improvement over
the last three years.  "There is only about an 11% difference between Ford and
the quality leader this year.  Last year, there was about a 31% difference,"
said Ken Dabrowski, vice president, Quality & Process Leadership.  "This
shows that Ford is gaining excellent quality momentum and we are pleased with
the results."
    The Lincoln Navigator tied for first place in the Luxury Utility segment,
yielding a first place tie for Lincoln among truck nameplate rankings.  This
is particularly impressive because the Navigator is an all-new model for Ford.
The Ford Expedition had the best-in-segment performance in the Full-Size
Utility category.  The Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer post the highest quality
scores in the Premium Compact segment, placing first and second respectively.
The Ford Contour ranks third in the Entry Midsize segment.  The Ford F-Series
ranks second in the Full-Size Pickup segment.  The Mercury Sable ranks third
in the Premium Midsize segment.  Ford attributes its quality success this year
to its ongoing implementation of key quality initiatives that are helping
drive the company's Ford 2000 goal of becoming the leading automotive
manufacturer.  Most important, the company credits its quality gains to the
extended Ford family of employees, suppliers and dealers who have made
customer satisfaction their personal priority.
    "This kind of consistent quality progress is not happenstance and can only
occur with a dedicated team focused on providing high quality products to our
customers," said Dabrowski.  "Even though Ford was the most improved in last
year's Initial Quality Study, the Ford team did not become complacent in their
drive to improve the quality of our products.  This year's results are proof
of that commitment and they truly deserve the credit."
    In the 1997 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, Ford posted a
28% improvement over 1996, the largest improvement of any manufacturer.  In
April this year, Ford was awarded the 1998 J.D. Power Chairman's Award for
Cooperation in Vehicle Quality Improvement, the first award given by J.D.
Power and Associates to officially recognize labor and management's
cooperative and collective efforts to improve quality.  The Ford Ranger, Ford
Expedition and Mercury Grand Marquis also received top buyer satisfaction
ratings in the 1998 Strategic Vision Total Quality Index.