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Ford Motor Company Unveils Its Latest 'Better Idea'

22 January 2000

An All New Display for the New Millennium

    ORLANDO, Fla. -- Ford Motor Company unveiled its all-new Better Ideas Exhibit 
today at the National Automobile Dealer's Association 83rd annual convention.  
The 12,000-square-foot exhibit features all seven Ford Motor Company product 
brands -- Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda - along 
with the company's three service brands -- Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz.  
In addition to showcasing vehicles, the display has been designed to communicate 
the company's economic, social and environmental commitments.

    "This new Better Ideas Exhibit has been designed to communicate that Ford
Motor Company is a company that is exceedingly trustworthy -- a company that
operates openly, honestly and with integrity," said James C. Schroer, Ford
Motor Company vice president of Global Marketing.  "For nearly 100 years now,
Ford Motor Company been not only a leading manufacturing and sales
organization, but importantly a corporation that has made significant
contributions to society.  This display helps to tell that story to the men
and women who walk through it.  It truly is a celebration of Ford's rich
history, its productive presence in today's global market and our bright
future."

    Edsel B. Ford II, great grandson of the company founder and a member of
the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors, also was on hand to dedicate the
new exhibit at its inaugural appearance in Orlando.

    "One hundred years ago, as the odometer rolled over to the year 1900, my
great grandfather was very busy laying the groundwork for an industry that
genuinely changed the world," Mr. Ford said.  "Henry Ford really did believe
it was his job to make the world a better place, and he approached that
challenge in a number of ways.  We're continuing to build on that legacy today
as all of us at Ford continue to make contributions toward making the world a
better place."

    Several examples of Ford Motor Company's social initiatives are displayed
throughout the exhibit.  These "Better Ideas ... For a Better Place" include
Ford's sponsorship of "Race for the Cure" -- a national program to increase
breast cancer awareness and the Ford Freedom Award program, which posthumously
recognizes distinguished individuals who have dedicated their lives to
improving the African-American community and the world at large.  The past is
depicted with a 1925 Model T, and the future is glimpsed with a Synergy 2010,
a futuristic concept hybrid fuel vehicle.  Another portion of the exhibit
features "pods" on design and engineering, safety and manufacturing and the
United Automobile Workers.

    The display has been designed modularly to fit the needs of multiple
venues.  An internal web site also has been established within Ford to allow
other company components to view the new display and reserve it for other
uses.

    After its premiere at NADA, the Better Ideas exhibit is scheduled to
travel in 2000 to several consumer events, including the Air Venture Oshkosh
gathering in Wisconsin, the Ford Montreux Jazz Festival in Detroit, the Zoo
Atlanta Beastly Feast, the Senior Players Tournament in Dearborn and a host of
college recruiting activities.