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Ford Motor Company Vice President Delivers LEV Excursion To University of Colorado's Mt. Research Station

17 August 2000

Ford Motor Company Vice President Delivers LEV Excursion To University of Colorado's Mt. Research Station

    NEDERLAND, Colo. - Gurminder Bedi, vice president -- Truck Operations for
Ford Motor Company , today delivered a Ford Excursion that the company has 
donated to the University of Colorado's Mt. Research Station.

    Although the Excursion has often been the target of criticism from
environmental action groups for its massive size, it is a certified Low
Emission Vehicle (LEV) in all 50 states.  The director of the Mt. Research
Station, William D. Bowman, asked Ford to donate the Excursion to help
researchers collect accurate air quality and soil sample data.

    "We needed a big vehicle with four-wheel-drive capability to carry several
researchers and students, plus all their gear up some pretty rugged terrain,"
Bowman said.  "Plus we needed a vehicle with lower exhaust emissions than most
SUVs, since the research site has several air chemistry monitoring devices
which are sensitive to vehicle exhaust."

    The Research Station monitors atmospheric chemistry for several federal
agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
the National Center for Atmospheric Research.  The Niwot Ridge area, with its
high winds, is considered ideal for measuring minute quantities of emissions
that scientists link to global warming and ozone layer destruction.

    "We're happy to help the University of Colorado collect this important
information to help protect the global environment," Bedi said.  "The
Excursion is the perfect vehicle to meet the unique needs of this research
station."

    Bedi also underscored Ford's recent commitment to increase the fuel
economy of its entire U.S. fleet of SUVs by 2005.  "Making all Ford trucks and
SUVs in the United States perform as Low Emission Vehicles proved that we are
deeply committed to being an environmental leader, but it isn't enough.  We
know that global warming is the Number One concern among environmentalists.
Although our trucks are extremely clean in terms of pollutants, we know we
must reduce fuel consumption to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, too.  So
that's exactly what we intend to do.  We will continue to lead the auto
industry in environmental actions and if other companies follow, the Earth
will be the winner."