GM to close several North America plants

[southsider2k5]

Ford is going to jump in on the parade

 

In a speech

before the Business Roundtable, Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill

Ford talked about the energy and manufacturing challenges facing our country and

how industry and government can overcome them by investing again in American

innovation.

 

"Now, more than ever, with the competitive pressures of globalization, America

needs to respond to the economic challenges of our time," said Ford. "This is

not the moment to stop investing and concede our competitive edge in vital parts

of the economy. Just the opposite, we must take the lead and show the world that

there is only one, true innovative manufacturing giant. And it has three

distinct initials: U.S.A."

 

He said that other countries have made manufacturing important enough to make it

a national priority and called upon the U.S. to do the same. "It ultimately

means more jobs, more tax revenue, and a position of strength and leadership in

the world."

 

The Ford CEO outlined six cooperative measures between industry and government

that America can take in the short term that will "bear fruit for years to

come." The six measures include:

 

* Urging Congress to invest in America and dramatically increase the R&D tax

credit to more directly support companies working on advanced vehicles,

components, and fuel technologies.

 

* Challenging Congress to consider tax incentives to help American manufacturers

convert existing -- but outmoded plants -- into high-tech facilities.

 

* Calling for investment in the American workers who build the advanced

technology products with training programs and incentives to upgrade worker

skills, helping us move into the future while preserving American jobs.

 

* Pushing governments at all levels by 2010 to consider buying only hybrids or

other alternatively fueled vehicles.

 

* Expanding the infrastructure for ethanol fuels - so we can go from hundreds of

fuel stations to thousands.

 

* Convening a group of automakers, suppliers, fuel providers and government

agencies to address America's energy challenges.

 

"I believe that with the right investments, America -- and the American

manufacturing sector -- can win. It can maintain its leadership stature in the

world. And we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. All at the same time.

But we can't get there alone."

 

Ford said it is difficult to conceive of any issue that touches more of our

lives than energy. "It drives our mobility, our appliances and our choices about

how far we can live from our jobs. It affects our environment, our national

security and our household budgets. And when the price of gas goes up to $3 a

gallon, as it did just a few months ago, all Americans feel it in their

pocketbooks. And from where I sit, as Chairman of Ford Motor Company, it affects

the decisions I make every day."

 

Ford noted that when he became CEO in 2001, he made a conscious decision to

invest in new products that were more fuel efficient. "I believed back then that

the days of cheap gasoline were numbered. That led to the creation of the

world's first hybrid-electric SUV, the Ford Escape, and inspired our decision to

build up to 250,000 hybrids a year by 2010."

 

He reminded the Business Roundtable audience that despite recent industry

challenges, domestic auto manufacturers are still the foundation of the auto

industry in this country. "We still employ nearly 90% of the workers in our

industry. And since 1980, we've made more than 85% of the total investments in

the U.S. auto industry -- $175 billion."

 

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in

Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across

six continents. With nearly 324,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the

company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford,

Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related

services include Ford Motor Credit Company and Hertz. For more information

regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.fordvehicles.com .

 

SOURCE Ford Motor Company