Ford Credit Restructuring North American Operations

15 June 1999
Ford Credit Restructuring North American Operations
        Continued Industry-Leading Service and Long-Term Fiscal Growth
                  Drive Decision to Retool Field Operations

    DEARBORN, Mich., June 15 -- Building on 40 years of success
as the world's leading automotive finance company, Ford Credit today announced
it will restructure its North American financing operations.  The move is
designed to enhance Ford Credit's industry-leading customer service and
position the company for greater long-term growth and productivity.
    The restructuring initiative will move loan servicing functions such as
collections, accounting and loan processing, currently housed in each of Ford
Credit's 141 North American branch offices, to eight regional Service Centers
located across North America.
    With support from the eight Service Centers, Ford Credit professionals at
its 141 branches will focus exclusively on sales and marketing to support
local area dealerships.  The first four centers will be located in Baltimore,
Nashville, Colorado Springs, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
    The locations of four additional Service Centers, including the location
of Ford Credit's Canadian Service Center, will be announced by September.  The
timeline calls for completion of the restructuring initiative in North America
by the end of 2000.
    "Ford Credit is making these changes to take our already excellent
customer service to a higher level," said Greg Smith, president, Ford Credit
North America.  "Our customer satisfaction ratings are 92 percent -- among the
highest in the industry.  But we see that as a starting point.  By raising our
already excellent customer satisfaction levels even higher, we aim to send
more delighted Ford Credit customers back to their local dealers for another
quality Ford car or truck."
    As part of the restructuring initiative, Ford Credit is investing in new
technologies designed to drive cost- and time-saving efficiencies.  Ford
Credit is incorporating proven technologies, such as workflow imaging and auto
dialing.
    "Implementing these technologies will improve Ford Credit's customer
service by providing employees with the information they need to handle
customer requests right at their desktop.  Customers get what they need
faster," said Smith.  "We're always looking at ways to bring us closer to the
people we serve while realizing tremendous efficiencies in the administration
and collection processes."
    Ford Credit has seven years of experience with the new structure,
beginning in 1992 when Ford Credit's first regional Service Center in
Baltimore began servicing local branch offices located in the Washington, D.C.
area.  The Baltimore facility boasts the highest dealer satisfaction ratings
within Ford Credit.
    "In Baltimore, Ford Credit developed a best-practice model that we are now
rolling out to the rest of our field organizational structure," said Smith.
"Thanks to our experience in Baltimore, we're certain we have a model that
works and is capable of delivering outstanding results."
    The first new Service Center is slated to open in Nashville this
September, with additional locations opening by first quarter of next year.
The Nashville Service Center will occupy four floors of Ford Credit's existing
PRIMUS Automotive Financial Services facility and will employ approximately
500 people, in addition to the 1,300 PRIMUS employees.
    Each Service Center location is expected to employ between 250 and 600
people.  Employment at the Service Centers will be first offered to existing
Ford Credit branch employees, with additional open positions available to
qualified applicants within each market.
    Ford Credit is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company
and is the world's largest automotive finance company.  Ford Credit provides
vehicle financing in 36 countries to more than 8 million customers and more
than 11,000 automotive dealers.