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Lincoln Mercury Marks 1st California Anniversary, July 14

14 July 1999

Lincoln Mercury Marks 1st California Anniversary, July 14

    IRVINE, Calif., July 13 -- On Wednesday, July 14, Lincoln
Mercury will celebrate its first anniversary as a California-based enterprise.
    One year ago, the company broke decades of automotive tradition to become
the first domestic automaker to move its world headquarters from Detroit to
California.  The move was part of a transformation at Lincoln Mercury to
become a consumer enterprise focused on the automotive business, with a
radically reshaped customer base.
    First year successes include:
    *  U.S. luxury sales leadership
    *  Nearly 25,000 dealer orders for the new Lincoln LS sedan in just six
       weeks
    *  Live Internet launch of 2000 Sable
    *  Segment leadership for Mercury Cougar

    "Lincoln Mercury will continue its focus on developing relevant,
differentiated brands and vehicles for discerning customers, surprising and
delighting them with products and services that exceed their expectations,"
said Mark Hutchins, president.