Quality Research

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 11, 2008 – Audi of America, Inc. posted the greatest ranking improvement in initial quality in the results from J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 industry-wide study, released June 4, 2008. Even as initial quality improved across the auto industry, Audi distinguished itself from the pack, jumping sixteen spots to #10 with 113 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). The Audi A6 ranked third in a tie in the Midsize Premium Car segment.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, June 2, 2008 -- Reflecting the sentiments of automobile consumers, on May 28 BMW was named the top leader of Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index™ in the categories of Best Brand and Luxury Utility for its 2008 X5 Sports Activity Vehicle. The San Diego research firm based its Total Quality Experience™ rankings on the ratings received by new vehicle owners in 19 product segments.

The distinctive styling and quiet ride of the 2009 Ford Flex begins with the sheet metal from Buffalo (N.Y.) Stamping Plant

BUFFALO, N.Y., May 28, 2008 – When the 2009 Ford Flex arrives in dealership showrooms this summer, customers will enjoy a quiet, yet dynamic ride in one of the most stylish vehicles on the road today – thanks in large part to Ford’s Buffalo Stamping Plant.

2009 Ford Flex's New State-of-the-Art Measuring Machines: New state-of-the-art measuring machines use lasers and sensors to ensure world-class fit and finish in the 2009 Ford Flex.

Highlights:
* Buffalo Stamping supplies 80 percent of the sheet metal for Flex, equaling 32,250 tons of steel annually.

DEARBORN, Michigan , April 7, 2008 – When it comes to initial vehicle quality, no automaker performs better than Ford.

Highlights:
* Ford catches Honda in initial quality, putting it in statistical tie at the top with Toyota and Honda.
* Ford’s vehicle quality improved 8 percent versus last year.
* Every new car and truck, including the 2008 Ford Focus, launched with improved quality versus its predecessor

The quality of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles soared to the top of the charts equaling that of Toyota and Honda, according to the first quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 11, 2007 – A multi-million dollar investment has transformed the basement of a seemingly non-descript Ford engineering facility into a technological showcase featuring robots abusing seats, a tire-squealing conveyer belt and an eight-foot chamber that houses brake testing that used to occur on the streets of Los Angeles.

Highlights:
* Ford invests millions in “Tough Testing” center full of advanced computers, robots and lab simulations that are accelerating development of products customers want.
* New, advanced tests used further upstream in development to significantly reduce engineering time and cost while increasing quality improvements.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 11, 2007 – Ford Motor Company’s virtual ergonomic technology is a key reason the company’s quality performance soared in 2007, improving 11 percent in the United States versus 2 percent for the industry average, according to a Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.

Highlights:
* Ford’s virtual ergonomic technology leadership drives higher quality performance.
* Predicting – and eliminating – ergonomic issues means helping reduce the risk of injuries for workers, lowering manufacturing costs and further improving quality.
* Technology combines advanced motion capture with human modeling to help create even safer jobs.

Oct. 17, 2007 (Fact Sheet) -- Ford Motor Company is on a quality roll. Changes to the company’s product development, manufacturing and quality processes have further boosted vehicle quality, putting Ford on par with the best in the business.

Specifically, Ford is:

* Designing quality into our future models using customer feedback.
* Building quality into our current models by examining warranty claims daily and feeding the information back to the plant so quality teams can eliminate issues where they originate.
* Launching with discipline. Ford has raised the bar on our launch quality standards and vehicles are not released until they meet these stringent standards.

DEARBORN, Oct. 17 – Adding still more good news to this week’s quality drive, the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study shows Ford Motor Company’s line-up soared above the industry’s rate of improvement in the third quarter.

* Ford Motor Company quality continues its dramatic improvement, reducing Things Gone Wrong (TGW) levels for third straight year and further closing the gap with the best in class.
* Ford quality jumps 11 percent, soaring above the industry’s 2 percent improvement, according to GQRS study.
* A total of 16vehicles rank in top three for either TGW performance or customer satisfaction.