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Ford Donates First Low Emission Pickup Truck to City of Norfolk

26 August 1999

Ford Donates First Low Emission Pickup Truck to City of Norfolk

    NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 25 -- Ford Motor Company today donated the
first Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) pickup truck off the Norfolk Assembly Plant
line to the City of Norfolk.
    "The Norfolk Assembly Plant has long been an environmental steward in the
community," said Mayor Paul Fraim.  "The tremendous support and corporate
leadership Ford has brought to the City of Norfolk in terms of its
environmental initiatives have set the stage for progress and growth towards
both a cleaner Norfolk and revitalized downtown."
    The truck being donated is a teal-blue, Ford F-150, 4X2 SuperCab XLT.
City officials said it will be used primarily as a work vehicle around public
building projects and will be included in Norfolk's Grand Illumination Parade
in November, 1999.
    "It's gratifying to know that the best-selling truck in America is now the
cleanest truck in America and that it's produced right here in Virginia," said
Governor Jim Gilmore in a letter congratulating the plant's 2,400 workers.
"The low emissions technology that went into the Ford F-Series is a very
important milestone on the road to cleaner air for Virginians."
    Beginning with the 2000 model year, the Ford F-Series pickup fleet will
average smog-forming emission levels 43 percent cleaner than before their LEV
classification.
    "Who would have guessed what started as a small plant producing 75 cars a
day would grow into one of Ford's best assembly plants in the world," said Tom
Phillips, Norfolk Assembly Plant manager.