All-New Ford Fusion’s Unique Design, Technology Inspires Revolutionary Collaboration with MILK Studios

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• New Ford Fusion sparks collaboration with cutting-edge MILK Studios, revealing “Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective” – a new project including an immersive gallery experience featuring original multimedia artworks and performances, live music, and panel discussions inspired by the fusion concept – opening in New York and then traveling to Los Angeles

• Artists including Matthew Williams, former creative director to Lady Gaga and current collaborator with Kanye West and ShowStudio, have created artworks for the project and documented their creative processes on www.fusionists.co

• All-new Fusion was designed to strike an emotional chord with customers, balancing form and function while continuing to embrace the growing trend of making high-end products more attainable

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2012 – Today Ford and MILK Studios, known as the hub for nurturing creativity with some of the most visionary talent, debut a revolutionary collaboration inspired by the new Fusion. “Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective” is a digital and physical gallery experience that unites fashion, music, photography, film and technology.

The exhibition debuts a month before the new Ford Fusion launches nationally and exemplifies Ford’s evolving design strategy, which includes the use of virtual reality technology, leverages new sustainable materials, and brings together creative disciplines to advance exterior design and the in-car environment.

“In the Ford studios, we bring the best designers, artists and engineers to work together creating a new generation of vehicles, just as artists work tirelessly to bring their visions to life,” said J Mays, chief creative officer for Ford. “Our collaboration with MILK demonstrates how the powerful concept of fusion has inspired a wide range of artists to come together and fuse their diverse talents, while allowing access to the creative process of this new generation of designers.”

“Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective,” presented by Ford and MILK, opening in New York today then traveling to Los Angeles next week, brings together six multimedia artists including Pharrell Williams, entrepreneur and musician; Matthew Williams, previous creative director for Lady Gaga who now collaborates with Kanye West and ShowStudio; and Cyril Duval, renowned fashion and conceptual art designer. Other artists are Nathaniel Brown, WIFE and Brian DeGraw. All have created original artwork and opened up their studios to the public, documenting their creative processes through editorial and video content on www.fusionists.co.

“Working with Ford on ‘Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective’ demonstrates the many similarities between the art and automotive worlds and the evolving creative process that happens between the walls of these creative studios,” said Mazdack Rassi, co-founder and creative director of MILK. “This project let us tap into MILK’s thriving subculture of artists, photographers, filmmakers and musicians, and gave them the means and the platform to animate their personal vision.”

As part of the event, Ford will debut a short documentary featuring Pharrell Williams and Tyson Toussant from Bionic Yarn, the company that produces super-strong, fast-drying fabric made primarily from recycled plastic bottles. Similar to how Ford incorporates sustainable materials into its vehicles, such as the 38.9 recycled plastic water bottles that go into the seats of some Ford Fusion models, Bionic Yarn is a durable canvas substitute and is used by fashion brands such as Moncler and Timberland.

“The Big SHFT: Tyson Toussant & Pharrell Williams, Bionic Men” is part of the Big SHFT series Ford has produced with Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer of SHFT.com, which features 10 innovators who are transforming the world with groundbreaking sustainability solutions.

‘Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective’

The virtual exhibition will be brought to life during gallery openings in New York today and in Los Angeles Aug. 29. Finished works of art will be showcased to the public on www.fusionists.co, with select pieces being donated to art and design schools in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit to inspire the next generation of designers.

“‘Wall to Wall’ is going to be a modern show of sculpture, sound, paint, projections, choreography, film, light, music and automobiles that mixes the highly conceptual with the highly entertaining,” said Geremy Gasper, co-founder and creative director of LEGS, MILK’s in-house creative and production company. “In curating the show, we found artists that fuse together different creative disciplines in bold and cutting-edge fashions – each constructing their own unique multimedia world. It’s a really diverse group of work, and we’re thrilled to get this caliber of talent and vision under one roof.”

Bringing great design global

The all-new Ford Fusion surpasses physical beauty, however; designed and engineered by a multitude of talents brought in from across the globe, the car will begin to change the way people view Ford, said Mays.

Offering customer-centered technology like active park assist and adaptive cruise control, it also provides the widest-ever portfolio of fuel-efficient powertrains and integrates sustainable materials into the interior.

“As they do with art, people recognize quality; they recognize beauty,” Mays said. “It speaks not only to their practical side, but to their emotions. And that’s what we want to see.”

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Past and Present Mustangs, 20 Years of SVT Performance on Display at Mustang Alley for Annual Woodward Dream Cruise

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• Annual Mustang Alley attraction to feature more than 800 classic Ford Mustang from 1964 to the present day and a special 20th Anniversary display of SVT performance vehicles

• Celebrity guest Vaughn Gittin Jr. and professional drivers from Ford Motor Company will perform in a specially constructed “Burn out Box” for spectators

• Raffle tickets on sale for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca in Aug. 18 drawing. Proceeds benefit National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 14, 2012 – Once again, the intersection of 9 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, just north of Detroit city limits, will be transformed into Ford Motor Company’s Mustang Alley, an annual free attraction, run by more than 300 Ford volunteers during the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18 – rain or shine – this high-octane destination will feature more than 800 classic and modern Mustang models from 1964 through the present day, a 20th Anniversary display of Special Vehicle Team (SVT) vehicles, a celebrity appearance by Vaughn Gittin Jr., Ford professional drivers in a “Burn out Box” and finally, a chance to win a rare 2013 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca for a mere $10.

The annual Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day classic car event. About 1.5 million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars from all over the country are expected to visit the Dream Cruise, which stretches from suburban Detroit north to Pontiac in a celebration of all things automotive.

The full Mustang line will be on display, including the 662-horsepower 2013 Ford Shelby GT500, both street and racing versions of the Boss 302, and the Mustang GT and V6 Coupe with Performance Package.

Click to download fact sheet.

The special 20th Anniversary SVT display will feature new vehicles and classics from the SVT lineup including the new Shelby GT500, 2013 Focus ST, Raptor, several Ford GT models, the iconic Lightning F-150 and many other vehicles.

Mustang Alley is the place to be for performance enthusiasts building Ford-powered street rods and race cars. Ford Racing will have a large display of street and strip crate engines on display. A cadre of Ford Racing technicians and engineers will be on hand to meet with the public and answer detailed technical questions about performance, installation, tuning and other topics.

Win a Laguna Seca for $10

In addition, Ford and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, are working together to raffle off a one-of-a-kind 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. The event will take place on Saturday from 5 to 5:30 p.m. at Mustang Alley.

Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $20 and can be purchased at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/mig/fundraising-events/mustang-raffle/index.aspx

Ford employees may contact Holly Jaskolski at hjaskols@ford.com, 313.805.3126.

The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca features:

• Unique exterior color combination of Sterling Gray metallic paint with gloss black reflective striping, rear pedestal spoiler, mirror caps and special badging
• Charcoal cloth interior with custom embroidered Recaro seating and Sterling Gray X-brace
• Ford Racing aluminum wheels with unique finish – 19 x 9 front, 19 x 10 rear
• A coupon for TracKey from Ford Racing will be included with the car to be installed at an authorized Ford dealership
• Boss Track Attack program, offered through Team Mustang and Ford Racing, includes instructor-led training and track time at Miller Motorsports Park (travel to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, not included)

Visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/MIG/index.aspx for full vehicle specifications and raffle rules.

For more information, call 248.996.5426, 248.936.0342 or 248.936.0375.

Raffle participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Payment of all applicable federal, state and local taxes, title, fees and surcharges is the responsibility of the winner. Car is a 50-state U.S. model. MS raffle not associated with Mustang Alley team or Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company employees and Mustang Alley team are eligible to purchase tickets.  

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Ford Dealers Now Using SHOWCASE App and Apple iPad to Improve Customer Purchase Experience

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• New SHOWCASE app offers Ford sales consultants “anytime, anywhere” access to their inventory and product information

• App provides rich video content on features and technologies linked to vehicle inventory

• SHOWCASE app allows dealerships to save and share customer vehicle preferences

• The app integrates the online experience with the off-line purchase experience

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 13, 2012 – For most people, buying a new car, truck or SUV is the second-biggest purchase they make after their home, so ensuring the process is as easy and stress-free as possible is critical to customer satisfaction. The new SHOWCASE app being used by Ford sales associates with the Apple iPad^® is helping dealers find just the right car for their customers faster than ever.

 

To view the new SHOWCASE app in action, visit the link below:

 

http://youtu.be/fmg1FJh5Lo8

 

 

“Waiting for the sales consultant to check the inventory or wandering the aisles of a car lot in search of just the right combination of colors and options can be a tedious and time-consuming process,” says Michelle Moody, Cross Vehicle Marketing manager for Ford. “If the weather is bad or the sun has gone down early in the winter months, venturing outside is even less appealing.

 

“In early 2011 we decided to take advantage of the portable technology that became available with the launch of the iPad to facilitate an improved purchase experience for our customers,” Moody says.

 

In recent years customers have become accustomed to using various shopping tools to configure and compare vehicles on the Ford.com website. The new SHOWCASE app links this experience to the showroom, giving sales associates new technology to determine what features a customer wants and to immediately check inventory to see which vehicles in stock most closely match those needs.

 

“We had tried using kiosks in the showroom to enable customers to check out our vehicles and features, but many customers were not as comfortable using these on their own,” Moody says.

 

Using the new SHOWCASE app running on an iPad, the salesperson can sit with the customer to pick out the model that person wants, then filter the selection based on trim level, colors, equipment and price. The app then displays all the vehicles in stock that match the customer’s criteria including a list of all the equipment installed on each vehicle.

 

“I have to say it has never been easier finding the right vehicle,” said Maxx Springman, a customer who recently bought a new Escape from All-American Ford in Old Bridge, N.J. “I can’t believe we were able to build the exact Escape I was looking for right there at the salesman’s desk.

 

“Then we actually found the right one on the lot without having to spend an hour walking around outside looking at different window stickers like I’ve done in the past. Thank goodness, too, because it was, like, 110 degrees out and ready to pour!” 

 

The SHOWCASE app provides instant access to more information including videos about the available features, such technology as SYNC^® and MyFord^® Touch, as well as driver assist features like adaptive cruise control and active park assist. Using the app, the salesperson can quickly demonstrate features like collision warning with brake support, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) or Lane-Keeping System, which may not be easy to show off during a test drive.

 

If the customer needs time to consider or discuss the purchase with his or her significant other, the sales associate can email the information on the specific vehicles in stock directly to the customer.

 

“Customers don’t like to wait while the salesperson walks away to check inventory,” says Rich Savino, owner of All-American Ford, a participant in the pilot program. “The SHOWCASE app helps to create a more intimate experience; it lets customers see what is available instantly and make adjustments if they don’t find what they are looking for.”

 

The SHOWCASE app was developed by Ford and user interface design specialists Razorfish over a period of several months in 2011. A pilot group of 14 Ford dealers participated in defining the app and then testing it beginning in November 2011. Open registration for all Ford dealers began on Aug. 1, 2012 and nearly 200 dealers have already signed up to use the new app.

 

Recently, the Build and Price section of Ford.com was enhanced to give customers the ability to save their builds. Ford is also working on a number of future enhancements for the Showcase app including the ability for the sales associate to retrieve custom builds previously saved by the customer and then automatically search inventory to find vehicles that match the customer’s needs.

 

The SHOWCASE app is just the latest step in Ford’s efforts to improve the customer experience before, during and after the purchase of a new vehicle.

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Ford C-MAX Hybrid Earns 47 City, 47 Highway, 47 Combined – an EPA Rating Hat Trick; Beats Toyota Prius v by up to 7 MPG

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• All-new 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid delivers EPA-certified 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway ratings – 7 mpg better than Toyota Prius v on the highway – for a 47 mpg combined rating

• Ford’s first hybrid to achieve equal city and highway ratings, the versatile C-MAX Hybrid also is expected to offer 15 class-exclusive features such as the available hands-free liftgate

• C-MAX Hybrid launches this fall as part of Ford’s power of choice strategy to deliver leading fuel economy across its lineup while tripling electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 7, 2012 – Ford Motor Company once again raises the hybrid fuel-economy bar with the all-new Ford C-MAX Hybrid, which is now officially EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined – beating Toyota Prius v by up to 7 mpg.

The certification is significant because it makes C-MAX Hybrid the first hybrid vehicle to offer 47 mpg across the board. Also, hybrids traditionally have been more economical in city driving than on the highway, unlike conventional vehicles.

C-MAX Hybrid, however, returns the same fuel economy whether driving cross-country or across the city – stemming mostly from a growing list of Ford innovations that have helped the vehicle to deliver an impressive list of metrics, such as a top speed of up to 62 mph in EV mode.

“The all-new C-MAX Hybrid is a great symbol of how Ford has transformed into a fuel-economy and technology leader with 47 mpg across the board and a highway rating 7 mpg better than Toyota Prius v,” said Ford Vice President of Powertrain Engineering Joe Bakaj. “We’ve done this with innovation – represented by nearly 500 hybrid patents – while driving costs down 30 percent so we can bring these fuel-saving vehicles to more customers.”

Among the Ford innovations helping C-MAX Hybrid drivers enjoy maximum fuel economy are the patented SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide that coaches for top fuel efficiency by providing growing green leaves in the gauge cluster as a reward for economical driving; and ECO Cruise, a feature that helps optimize powertrain elements for convenient yet economical highway travel.

City equals highway

Hybrid vehicle drivers traditionally saw superior fuel-economy figures in city driving, so loyalists maximized their fuel economy through regenerative braking in stop-and-go traffic. But now, higher-speed innovations have caught up on efficiency.

“City, highway and everywhere in between, C-MAX Hybrid is EPA-certified at 47 mpg,” Bakaj said. “It’s a win-win-win.”

C-MAX Hybrid is expected to be America’s most affordable hybrid utility vehicle with a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery, which is $1,300 lower than Toyota Prius v. C-MAX Hybrid is currently available for order at select dealerships.

More information about C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi can be found on our website. Press releases, videos, photos and other material related to Ford’s electrified vehicles can be found here.

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2013 Ford Fiesta Brochure

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Here is the 2013 Ford Fiesta Brochure

Download the 2013 Ford Fiesta Brochure Here (PDF)

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Ford Engineers Leave No Detail in the Shade

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DEARBORN, Mich., June 28, 2012 – Can you look cool without sunglasses? Maybe not, so they are consistently among the top 10 items drivers carry in their cars, and accommodating this accessory is a priority for these Ford engineers.

 

 

Ford engineers evaluated – and modeled – more than 100 pairs of sunglasses from designer frames to drug store knockoffs to achieve accurate dimensions of a wide range of shades. The goal was to ensure 95 percent of all sunglasses fit well into the 2013 Ford Fusion overhead stowage bin. Talk about dedication to making it possible for every driver to look their best on sunny days.

 

Using the coordinate measuring machine – a laser scanning device that produces accurate, to-scale 3D models on the computer – the engineers scanned real sunglasses to simulate how different types would rest in the overhead container.

 

Sejal Shreffler – core accommodation and usage engineer – explains, “Older sunglasses holders were designed for thin, wire-framed pairs, but fashions have evolved toward thicker, plastic shades. So we changed the bins to keep up with the trends.”

 

For this team of Ford engineers, it’s all about style and size, whether it’s throwback wayfarers – that may actually have been purchased the first time they were in style – or the ever-convenient clip-on sunglasses. No matter what look drivers are going for, the 2013 Ford Fusion will have a spot for almost any pair of shades.

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Ford Mustang Customizer Updated for 2013, Includes Chance to Win Your Fantasy Mustang

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• Social engagement is helping to fuel an 18 percent sales jump for Mustang in 2012

• More than 4.1 million fans have already built dream Mustang using the Customizer

• New enhanced and celebrity battle modes will let Facebook users cast ballots for their favorite custom Mustang

• Four fans will win the fantasy Mustang they build in the Customizer

 

Over its nearly 50-year run, the Ford Mustang has sold more than 8.5 million examples and earned status as an American icon. In the parallel world of social media, its presence is even bigger and about to get bigger still.

 

To coincide with the new 2013 Mustang now hitting the road, Ford is relaunching its popular Mustang Customizer with a host of new features, such as enhanced battle modes, badges and stats as well as an opportunity for four lucky fans to win either a Mustang V6, GT, Boss 302 or Shelby GT500.

 

“Since the Customizer was originally launched in September 2011, more than 4.1 million different variations of the Mustang have been built by more than 1 million unique visitors,” said Lee Jelenic, Ford marketing communications manager. “We’re having great success in social marketing by actively engaging our fans and it’s helping to fuel the recent Mustang sales resurgence with sales up 18 percent so far in 2012.”

 

Customers consistently highlight design and personalization as the top reasons to buy a Mustang. The Customizer gives users a way to craft the look of their favorite ride and compare it with their friends.

 

Through customer research, Ford learned that for Mustang owners, present and future, Customizer was the perfect mechanism to hand the brand over to them. Ford created a rare opportunity for customers to have a meaningful and authentic experience with the product, without having to get them behind the wheel.

 

The Customizer, available as an app for iPhone, iPad and Android in mid-summer and online at http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/customizer/, allows fans to choose a Mustang V6, GT, Boss 302 or the new 662-horsepower Shelby GT500. They can then apply a dizzying array of colors, graphics, body kits and wheels to achieve the look they want. If the standard color palette doesn’t have anything that looks just right, fans can even use the sliders to blend custom hues.

 

To make sure the final design looks just right, users can view the car from five different directions with a variety of backdrops and even add some burnouts.

 

“Fans can save their finished fantasy Mustang to a computer to use as desktop wallpaper or share to their Facebook account and enter into the battle mode,” said Brian McClary, Ford digital marketing manager. “The battle mode pits the designs head to head, where more than 5.1 million battle votes have already been cast.”

 

Since the special parts and graphics are available off the shelf, these custom Mustang don’t have to remain virtual. Customers can head down to their local Ford dealer and order a Mustang of their own exactly as they built it in the Customizer, except for the unique paint colors.

 

“We’ve significantly upgraded the Customizer this year,” added McClary. “The original battle mode has been enhanced, and we’ve added celebrity battles, smack talk capability, new user stats and leader boards, badges and points for the activities on the site and apps.”

 

Earlier this year, a special Mustang TV commercial highlighted some of the possibilities of the Customizer. Click here to view the Mustang Inner TV ad: http://youtu.be/HiyhXf_KVc0.

 

Over the rest of year, Ford will further sweeten the pot by selecting four dream Mustangs and building them for the creators. Ford will give away one unique Mustang V6, GT, Boss 302 and a Shelby GT500.

 

Fans can create their inner Mustang now at http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/customizer/.

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Ford Cuts Energy Use 22 Percent; New Sustainability Report Calls for Added 25 Percent Drop by 2016

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• Ford Motor Company has released its 13^th annual Sustainability Report titled “Blueprint for Sustainability: Accelerating Ahead” – a voluntary and comprehensive annual account highlighting all things sustainable, from people to products

• Ford’s success cutting energy use in its vehicle manufacturing process – and its announcement to cut another 25 percent in the next five years – comes as global energy use is being projected to soar 53 percent between 2008 and 2035

• Other progress highlighted includes reduction in waste-to-landfill, water use and CO₂ emissions; a summary of company financial health; improvement in vehicle fuel economy; and safety achievements

SIDEBAR: About the Sustainability Report

 

DOWNLOAD: JPG  |  PDF

DEARBORN, Mich., June 15, 2012 – Ford announced today in its annual Sustainability Report that it has reduced the amount of energy required to produce each vehicle in its manufacturing facilities by 22 percent in the last six years. The company also announced plans to reduce usage another 25 percent on a per-vehicle basis by 2016.

 

Decreased energy consumption during vehicle manufacturing is just one highlight of Ford’s 13^th annual Sustainability Report. The report – “Blueprint for Sustainability: Accelerating Ahead” – is a comprehensive showcase of the company’s efforts to tackle a myriad of sustainability challenges in a rapidly changing world.

 

Other successful initiatives featured include reductions in water use, waste-to-landfill and CO₂ emissions as well as improvements in vehicle fuel economy and safety.

 

“Sustainability has moved from the periphery to the center of our strategy for succeeding in the marketplace and helping to address global challenges,” said Robert Brown, vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

 

Ford issued its first Sustainability Report in 1999 to address the company’s initiatives regarding social, economic and environmental issues. Like Ford’s sustainability-related processes and results, the report has evolved, too. New this year are sections highlighting Ford’s regional sustainability initiatives in Europe, South America and Asia; commentary from third-party subject matter experts like Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, and multimedia elements.

 

“Our sustainability report is far from a bunch of tables and charts,” said John Viera, global director, Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental Matters. “Anyone who spends any amount of time with it will truly get a sense of just how committed Ford is to supporting positive change and reducing the environmental impact of its products and facilities.”

 

Consider the drop in energy consumption: The amount of electricity used to produce each vehicle in Ford’s manufacturing facilities has been reduced by about 800 kilowatt-hours – from 3,576 kwh in 2006 to 2,778 kwh in 2011. By comparison, average households in states like California, New York, Illinois and Michigan use between 562 kwh and 799 kwh monthly.

 

Ford’s progress has been achieved by investing in energy-saving practices and equipment. At Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., for example, the company uses a new “three-wet” paint application that reduces electricity use along with CO₂ and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions.

 

At the same plant, a new 500-kilowatt solar panel system has been installed to generate renewable energy for production of Ford vehicles like Focus and Focus Electric.

 

Thanks to such efforts already in place and Ford’s commitment to making further progress, the company projects a continued drop in energy consumption – 25 percent between 2011 and 2016.

 

This commitment is made against a backdrop of the U.S. Department of Energy announcement last September that global energy demand will increase 53 percent between 2008 and 2035.

 

Environmental

Reduction in energy consumption is just one result of Ford’s focus on minimizing the environmental impact of the vehicles it produces and the facilities where they are made.

 

Each Ford facility uses measured environmental targets to track and accelerate improvements designed with the environment in mind. The targets are reviewed and updated annually.

 

In addition to its commitment to further reducing energy consumption, Ford also:

 

• Reduced the total amount of waste sent to landfills globally by 11.3 percent from 2010 to 2011
• Plans to further reduce its waste to landfill by 10 percent per vehicle this year, building on existing efforts that have reduced global waste by 100 million pounds (44 percent) in the last five years
• Reduced CO₂ emissions from global operations in 2011 by 8 percent on a per-vehicle basis compared with 2010
• Turned what would have been 163 tons of recovered paint solids into enough power for 20 residential homes for one year through just one of many new ways the company is converting waste to energy
• Advanced water-treatment technologies to allow the reuse of water and reduce water supply requirements, water discharges and use of treatment chemicals and the generation of solid waste
• Reduced water use to 4.7 cubic meters per vehicle in 2011 within a corporate goal of reducing the amount of water used per vehicle by 30 percent between 2009 and 2015

“Integration of our sustainability initiatives into the Ford production system has enabled us to accelerate environmental improvements at our manufacturing facilities,” said Andy Hobbs, director, Environmental Quality Office. “This enables all members of the Ford manufacturing team to contribute to meeting our environmental targets.”

 

Sustainable Materials

Ford vehicles continue to be a major focal point of the company’s efforts to reduce environmental impact. For example, the seat fabric in most of Ford’s new or redesigned vehicles must now consist of at least 25 percent post-industrial or post-consumer recycled content. A total of 37 fabrics now meet the requirements and have been incorporated into Ford vehicles. Other highlights include:

 

• A seat fabric containing a fiber made from recycled plastic water bottles is being used in the Focus Electric, Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi
• Nonwoven headliner fabrics now contain 50 to 75 percent recycled yarns, depending on the color
• Post-consumer recycled nylon is used in some underhood parts, including air cleaner housings, engine fans, fan shrouds, HVAC temperature valves, engine covers, cam covers and carbon canisters
• Nearly 4.1 million pounds of carpet has been recycled into cylinder head covers, the equivalent of a carpet the size of more than 150 football fields – eliminating the use of more than 430,000 gallons of oil
• Use of seat foam made with soy oil in all North America vehicles, also reducing dependency oil-use and CO₂ emissions

Societal

Because Ford affects such a broad range of stakeholders – employees, dealers, investors, communities – the Sustainability Report also details some of the ways the company interacted with those parties in 2011, said David Berdish, manager, Social Sustainability.

 

For example, the report outlines how Ford revised its “Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility,” which applies to not only Ford itself, but its $75 billion supply chain. The code deals with subjects such as working hours and conditions, nondiscrimination and other health, safety and environmental issues. Nearly 400 suppliers around the world were trained in 2011 through Ford-led and joint industry programs.

 

“Detailing our progress on human rights and sharing stories of our projects in the sustainability report is our primary source of communication regarding issues of social sustainability – and not just to media and customers,” said Berdish. “Investors are paying attention to working conditions, conflict minerals and trafficking more intensely, and our stakeholders want to be kept updated on all developments.”

 

Safety

Ford also is committed to customers and helping to keep them safe is a priority. That’s why the company works hard to develop and offer an array of advanced safety technologies across its entire vehicle lineup. Specific milestones achieved in the last year include:

 

• Twelve Ford Motor Company vehicles earned Top Safety Picks from the IIHS in 2012: Ford Fiesta (sedan and hatchback), Focus, Fusion, Taurus, Edge, Explorer, Flex and F-150 (Crew Cab) and the Lincoln MKX, MKS, MKT and MKZ
• Ford Fusion has been an IIHS Top Safety Pick for four years in a row starting with the 2009 model year
• The 2012 Ford Fiesta is the first vehicle in its class to offer a driver’s knee airbag
• Reaching 35,000 teen drivers in 2011 through the Ford Driving Skills for Life program – a driver education program designed for teens
• Winning numerous awards for its available rear-seat inflatable safety belts that launched on the 2011 Ford Explorer and are an automotive industry exclusive. For the 2012 model year, Ford expanded the availability of these safety belts in North America to the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT

To see details about the highlights above and much more, the full report can be found online at http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/sustainability.

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