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Ford Plants Sweep J.D. Power 1998 Quality Awards

4 June 1998

Ford Plants Sweep J.D. Power 1998 Quality Awards

    *     St. Thomas Assembly: GOLD
    *     Chicago Assembly: SILVER
    *     Michigan Truck: BRONZE

    DEARBORN, Mich., June 3 --  Ford Motor Company
swept all three top places in this year's study by J.D. Power of initial
quality at North American assembly plants of all manufacturers.
    The Ford St. Thomas Assembly Plant in St. Thomas, Ontario won the J.D.
Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS2) Gold Award for North
America.  The Ford St. Thomas Assembly Plant produces the Ford Crown Victoria
and Mercury Grand Marquis.
    The Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, home of the Ford Taurus and Mercury
Sable, won the Silver Award.  The Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, won the
Bronze.  Michigan Truck produces the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator
-- both IQS2 winners for their vehicle categories.
    "The J.D. Power study verifies what our internal audits have been telling
us -- that Ford's quality performance is up substantially again this year,"
said Bob Transou, group vice president, Manufacturing.
    "I am extremely proud of our assembly plant employees that delivered this
outstanding quality performance," Transou added.  "Not only did the Ford
Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and the Ford Escort win their respective
categories -- our plants swept the whole category for all North American
plants."
    Last year, the Ford Atlanta Assembly Plant, maker of the Ford Taurus and
Mercury Sable, won the J.D. Power and Associates Platinum Award for initial
quality -- the highest ranking in the world.
    "Ford's quality momentum is building," Transou said.  "We were leaders
last year, have the top three North American plants this year, and we are hard
at work at continuing our improvement for 1999."
    Ford Motor Company has consistently shown positive quality results over
the past several years.  Internal measures of initial quality have shown
double digit improvement over the last three years.
    Conducted annually, the J.D. Power and Associates IQS2 study monitors the
number of problems new vehicle owners experience in the first three months of
ownership.  The study ranks current year models based on problems per 100
vehicles covering 135 specific problem areas over nine vehicle sections.
    Gold Award winner St. Thomas Assembly had a score of 120.  Chicago
Assembly's score was 129.  Michigan Truck's score was 134.  The industry
average was 178.
    The 1998 study reports responses from more than 58,000 owners of 1998
model-year vehicles.