Ford Motor Company Reports 2005 Net Income Of $2 Billion, Profitable For Third Consecutive Year

* Third consecutive year of profitability. Full-year net income of $2 billion, or $1.04 per share.
* Full-year earnings from continuing operations of $1.28 per share or $2.5 billion after tax, excluding special items.
* Excluding special items, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific were all profitable, but these profits were more than offset by losses in North America. Premier Automotive Group continued to incur losses, but these were substantially reduced from 2004 levels.
* Financial Services, including Ford Motor Credit, reported strong results.

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 23, 2006 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported 2005 full-year net income of $2 billion, or $1.04 per share.In 2004, the company reported net income of $3.5 billion, or $1.73 per share.

Excluding special items, Ford’s 2005 full-year after-tax income from continuing operations totaled $2.5 billion, or $1.28 per share. This compares with year-ago earnings from continuing operations of $4.3 billion, or $2.11 per share, excluding special items.

Full-year sales and revenue for 2005 was $178.1 billion, up from $171.7 billion a year ago.

“We accomplished many things in 2005, including the successful launch of the new Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr, introduction of the company’s new innovation initiative, completion of the sale of Hertz, and an agreement with the UAW to help reduce rising health care costs,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford. “Excluding North America, our automotive operations made great progress in 2005; we must keep working to improve our business in each and every region.”

Special items reduced earnings by 6 cents per share in the fourth quarter. The pre-tax effect of these items includes: a charge of $1.3 billion for impairment of Jaguar and Land Rover fixed assets; personnel reduction actions of $962 million; and the sale of The Hertz Corporation for a total profit of $1.5 billion, $1.4 billion of which was recorded in the fourth quarter. In addition, the company’s repatriation of foreign earnings pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 resulted in a permanent tax savings of about $250 million. Largely as a result of these factors and costs associated with Visteon-related restructuring, special items reduced full-year income by 15 cents per share. Finally, full-year net income from continuing operations was reduced by 9 cents primarily for a cumulative change in accounting principles related to recent accounting guidance on the recognition of environmental obligations.

FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Ford Motor Company full-year highlights include:
* Launch of corporate innovation initiative, including a commitment to a ten-fold increase in hybrid production by 2010.
* Introduction of initiative to improve collaboration with select global suppliers of key components and consolidate our supply base.
* Sale of The Hertz Corporation, with proceeds of $5.6 billion.
* Finalization of Visteon agreement, which included the creation of a Ford-managed, temporary business entity named Automotive Components Holdings, LLC. This entity took ownership from Visteon of 17 plants and six offices, research centers and other facilities. This arrangement protects the supply of components to Ford plants, improves the competitiveness of Ford’s supply base, and will reduce Ford’s costs over time.
* Cessation of assembly operations at Jaguar’s Browns Lane facility and consolidation of its assembly operations at Castle Bromwich and closure of Ford’s Lorain Assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio.
* Reduction of total automotive personnel by more than 10,000 during 2005, through personnel reduction actions and attrition.
* Ratification of an agreement with the United Auto Workers (subject to court approval) to reduce the company’s health care costs primarily through modifications to the hourly retiree health care plan. These actions are expected to reduce Ford’s overall retiree health care and life insurance (OPEB) obligation by $5 billion, with a projected annual cost savings of about $650 million on a pre-tax basis.
* Establishment of a company contribution limit set at 2006 levels for health care benefits and a reduction of life insurance benefits for U.S. salaried retirees. These actions reduced Ford’s overall retiree health care and life insurance (OPEB) obligation by about $3 billion, with a projected annual cost savings of about $400 million on a pre-tax basis.

FOURTH QUARTER
In the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $124 million, or 8 cents per share. This compares with fourth quarter net income of $104 million, or 6 cents per share, in 2004. Excluding special items, fourth quarter after-tax income from continuing operations totaled $511 million, or 26 cents per share, compared to $554 million, or 28 cents per share, a year ago.

Total sales and revenue in the fourth quarter were $47.6 billion, compared to $44.9 billion in the year-ago period.

The following discussion of the results of our Automotive sector and Automotive business units is on a pre-tax basis that excludes special items. See table following “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of these special items and a reconciliation to GAAP.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
For the full year, Ford’s worldwide Automotive sector reported a pre-tax loss of $1 billion, compared with pre-tax profit of $850 million a year ago. The decline primarily reflected unfavorable cost performance, volume and mix, and exchange, partially offset by net pricing.

For the fourth quarter, Ford’s worldwide Automotive sector reported a pre-tax loss of $12 million, an improvement of $458 million from a pre-tax loss of $470 million a year earlier. The improvement primarily reflected favorable volume and mix, net pricing, cost performance and exchange.

Worldwide automotive revenue for 2005 was $154.5 billion, an improvement from revenue of $147.1 billion a year ago. Total fourth-quarter automotive revenue was $41.8 billion, an increase of $3 billion from a year ago.

Total company vehicle unit sales in 2005 were 6,818,000, an increase of 20,000 units from 2004. Fourth-quarter vehicle unit sales totaled 1,853,000, an increase of 102,000 units from a year ago.

Automotive cash at Dec. 31, 2005, totaled $25.1 billion of cash, marketable securities, loaned securities and short-term Voluntary Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) assets.

THE AMERICAS
The Americas reported a 2005 full-year pre-tax loss of $1.2 billion, compared to a pre-tax profit of $1.6 billion a year ago. For the fourth quarter, the Americas had a pre-tax loss of $15 million, an improvement of $411 million compared to a pre-tax loss of $426 million a year earlier.

North America: For 2005, Ford’s North America automotive operations reported a pre-tax loss of $1.6 billion, a decline of $3 billion from 2004. The decline primarily reflected unfavorable cost performance, lower U.S. market share, lower dealer inventories and adverse exchange. For the year, North America’s sales totaled $81.4 billion, compared with $83 billion a year earlier.

For the fourth quarter, North America automotive operations reported a pre-tax loss of $143 million, compared to a pre-tax loss of $470 million in 2004. The improvement primarily reflected cost reductions and favorable net pricing, partially offset by operating losses incurred by the former Visteon activities now controlled by Ford. Fourth-quarter sales were $22.1 billion, compared with $21.1 billion in 2004.

South America: Ford’s South America automotive operations reported a pre-tax profit of $389 million, an increase of $249 million from a 2004 pre-tax profit of $140 million. The improvement primarily reflected net pricing and favorable volume, as well as a stronger Brazilian currency. Full-year sales improved to $4.4 billion from $3 billion in 2004.

In the fourth quarter, Ford’s South America automotive operations posted a pre-tax profit of $128 million, an improvement of $84 million, compared with a pre-tax profit of $44 million in 2004. The improvement primarily reflected favorable net pricing and exchange. Fourth-quarter sales were $1.3 billion, an improvement from $899 million a year ago.

FORD EUROPE AND PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (PAG)
The combined 2005 full-year pre-tax profit for Ford Europe and PAG was $36 million. This compares with a loss of $626 million for 2004. For the fourth quarter, Ford Europe and PAG had a combined pre-tax profit of $112 million, an improvement from a pre-tax loss of $324 million a year ago.

Ford Europe: Ford Europe posted a full-year pre-tax profit of $136 million, compared with a pre-tax profit of $114 million a year ago. The improvement primarily reflected favorable cost performance and exchange, partially offset by unfavorable net pricing and mix. Sales for the year totaled $30.2 billion, compared to $26.5 billion in 2004.

For the fourth quarter, Ford Europe reported a pre-tax profit of $66 million, an improvement from a pre-tax loss of $69 million a year ago. The improvement primarily reflected favorable cost performance and higher profits at our operations in Turkey, partially offset by unfavorable product mix. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $8.2 billion, compared to $7.4 billion a year ago.

Premier Automotive Group: For 2005, PAG reported a full-year pre-tax loss of $100 million, an improvement from a pre-tax loss of $740 million a year ago. The improvement primarily reflected the impact of new products, primarily at Land Rover, that resulted in a richer mix and improved net pricing. Full-year sales for the group totaled $30.3 billion, compared to $27.6 billion in 2004.

In the fourth quarter, PAG reported a pre-tax profit of $46 million, an improvement of $301 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of $255 million in the year-ago period. The year-over-year improvement primarily reflected the impact of new Land Rover products, resulting in a richer mix and improved net pricing. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $8 billion, compared to $7.8 billion a year ago.

ASIA PACIFIC AND AFRICA/MAZDA
For the full year, Asia Pacific and Africa/Mazda reported a pre-tax profit of $316 million, compared with a pre-tax profit of $163 million a year ago. In the fourth quarter, Asia Pacific and Africa/Mazda reported a pre-tax loss of $7 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of $22 million in 2004.

Asia Pacific and Africa: For full-year 2005, Asia Pacific and Africa reported a pre-tax profit of $61 million, an improvement of $16 million when compared with the year ago period. The improvement primarily reflected favorable exchange and higher volume, which was partially offset by unfavorable vehicle mix and higher costs. Full-year sales totaled $7.7 billion, an increase from $7 billion in 2004.

For the fourth quarter, Asia Pacific and Africa reported a pre-tax loss of $39 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of $13 million in the year-ago period. The decline primarily reflected deterioration of results in Ford Australia due to lower volumes and unfavorable mix. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $1.8 billion, compared to $1.6 billion in 2004.

Mazda: For full-year 2005, Ford’s share of the pre-tax profit of Mazda and associated operations was $255 million, compared with $118 million a year ago. For the fourth quarter, Ford’s share of the pre-tax profit of Mazda and associated operations was a pre-tax-profit of $32 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of $9 million a year ago. The improvement in both periods primarily reflected gains in our investment in Mazda’s convertible bonds, as well as higher operating results at Mazda.

FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
Financial Services Sector results include The Hertz Corporation through Dec. 21, 2005, the date on which it was sold. For the full year, excluding special items, Ford’s Financial Services sector reported a pre-tax profit of $4.4 billion, compared with a pre-tax profit of $5 billion last year. For the fourth quarter, excluding special items, the Financial Services Sector earned a pre-tax profit of $881 million, compared with pre-tax profits of $1 billion a year ago.

Ford Motor Credit Company: Ford Motor Credit reported net income of $2.5 billion in 2005, down $370 million from a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis from continuing operations, Ford Motor Credit earned $3.9 billion in 2005, down $570 million from 2004.

In the fourth quarter of 2005, Ford Motor Credit’s net income was $465 million, down $78 million from a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis from continuing operations, Ford Motor Credit earned $737 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $859 million the previous year. The decrease in earnings in both fourth-quarter and full-year 2005 primarily reflected lower volumes and margins, partially offset by lower credit losses.

The Hertz Corporation: Hertz reported a full-year 2005 pre-tax profit of $569 million, excluding special items, which was a year-over-year improvement of $76 million. Hertz reported a fourth-quarter pre-tax profit of $121 million, excluding special items, which was an increase of $14 million from the same period in 2004.

BUSINESS REVIEW CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
A separate press release regarding the 2006 Business Review, which will include details of the North America “Way Forward” plan, will be issued at approximately 10:30 a.m. EST today.

Don Leclair, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer, will review the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2005 financial results beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST, Monday, Jan. 23, in Dearborn, Mich. Following this review, at approximately 10:30 a.m. EST, the company will host its 2006 Business Review, which will include details of the North America “Way Forward” plan.

At 2:00 p.m. EST, Ford Vice President and Treasurer Ann Marie Petach and Ford Motor Credit Vice Chairman and CFO David Cosper will host a conference call to provide additional details regarding Ford Motor Credit Company for fixed income analysts and investors.

The presentations (listen-only) and supporting materials will be available on the Internet at www.shareholder.ford.com. Representatives of the news media and the investment community participating by teleconference will have the opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.

Access Information - Mon., Jan. 23
Toll Free: 800-706-7741
International: 617-614-3471

2005 Earnings and 2006 Business Review: 9:30 a.m. EST
Earnings Passcode: “Ford Business Review”

Fixed Income: 2:00 p.m. EST
Fixed Income Passcode: “Ford Fixed Income Call”

Replays - Available for one week following the call
www.shareholder.ford.com
Toll Free: 888-286-8010
International: 617-801-6888

Replay Passcodes:
Business Review: 29481628
Fixed Income: 55865600

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees, 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.

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Safe Harbor/Risk Factors

Statements included or incorporated by reference herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, without limitation:



* Greater price competition resulting from industry overcapacity, currency fluctuations or other factors;
* A significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the United States or Europe, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events or other factors;
* Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
* A market shift (or an increase in or acceleration of market shift) away from sales of trucks or sport utility vehicles, or from sales of other more profitable vehicles in the United States;
* Higher prices for or reduced availability of fuel;
* Currency or commodity price fluctuations;
* Economic distress of suppliers that may require us to provide financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of materials;
* Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of supplies;
* Labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
* The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs;
* Increased safety, emissions, fuel economy or other regulation resulting in higher costs and/or sales restrictions;
* Unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising out of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
* A change in our requirements for parts or materials where we have entered into long-term supply arrangements that commit us to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts or materials, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller (“take-or-pay contracts”);
* Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our postretirement benefit plans (e.g., investment returns, interest rates, health care cost trends, benefit improvements);
* Changes in interest rates;
* Additional credit rating downgrades;
* Inability to access debt or securitization markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts;
* Higher-than-expected credit losses;
* Lower-than-anticipated residual values and/or higher-than-expected return rates for leased vehicles; and
* Inability to implement the Way Forward Plan.



We cannot be certain that any expectation, forecast or assumption made by management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projection will be realized. It is to be expected that there may be differences between projected and actual results. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information

Becky Sanch

Financial News Manager

Ford Motor Company

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