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Worldwide Diagnostic System Goes Global

23 January 2000

High-Tech Service Tool Supports Ford Brands

    ORLANDO, Fla. -- Ford's Worldwide Diagnostic System (WDS), an important new 
service tool in the drive for top customer satisfaction and owner loyalty, 
has gone global -- ahead of schedule.

    WDS was introduced at last year's National Automobile Dealers Association
convention in San Francisco.  Today, one year later, more than 11,000 WDS
units have been delivered to dealers in 128 countries.  This far exceeds
Ford's goal to have 8,000 WDS units in dealer hands by the beginning of 2000.

    "WDS is a powerful, sophisticated, next-generation diagnostic tool that
can meet the complex vehicle diagnostic demands of the 21st century," said
Mike Jordan, president - Automotive Consumer Services Group.  "WDS provides
technicians with fast and accurate diagnoses that will help them fix vehicles
right the first time, on time."

    In North America, dealers have taken delivery of more than 6,600 WDS
units.  About 3,800 have been delivered to dealers in Europe, 450 in South
America, 100 in Ford's Worldwide Direct Markets, and approximately 125 units
in the Asia Pacific Region.

    WDS is Ford Motor Company's response to the need for a diagnostic system
that can keep pace with rapidly advancing vehicle technology.  WDS will
support Ford Motor Company brands -- Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda 
and Mercury.

    With roll out to Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers well underway, WDS
systems will begin arriving at Jaguar and Aston Martin dealers second quarter
2000.  WDS will be introduced to Mazda dealers in the third quarter.

    "With WDS, Ford took a 'best practices' approach by combining diagnostic
knowledge and lessons learned from existing Ford diagnostic systems around the
world," said Sam Cole, diagnostic service planning manager, Ford Customer
Service Division.  "Combining our diagnostic experience with the latest
techniques, Ford has created one tool that has the capacity and capability to
support increasingly complex electronics in our global vehicles."

    The WDS system includes a lightweight, ergonomically designed portable
test unit (PTU) that has a large touch screen; comprehensive instrumentation
capability; a docking station housing the CD-ROM drive and charging system;
vehicle-specific cable, adapters and transducers; and a CD-ROM containing the
diagnostic information.  Also included is a warranty exchange program and
regular CD-ROM diagnostic updates.  Optional equipment includes a cart and a
fuel-line adapter kit.

    "As we bring new diagnostic features, such as the oscilloscope, to the
technicians servicing Ford Motor Company brands, it's imperative that we
continue to provide training in all markets where Ford has a presence," said
Frank Ligon, technical support operations manager, Ford Customer Service
Division.

    "Quality training is key to our quest in attaining superior customer
satisfaction," Ligon said.  "By helping our technicians to utilize the fast
and accurate diagnostics available with the WDS system we will continue to
strengthen our presence in the service sector of the automotive business."

    WDS is a world-class diagnostic tool that covers Ford Motor Company brands
from 1996-2000, and 2001 forward.  The concept behind WDS is to provide
technicians with fast and accurate diagnoses that will help them fix vehicles,
"right the first time, on time."