• Ford brand’s quality continues to improve faster than the overall industry
• Ford brand’s initial quality improved for the eighth consecutive year
• Ford F-150, Mustang, Edge and Mercury Sable were quality leaders in their respective vehicle segments
• F-250/F-350 Super-Duty manufacturing plant, Kentucky Truck in Louisville, was awarded a Bronze Plant Quality Award

DEARBORN, June 22, 2009 – Ford Motor Company recorded another strong improvement in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2009 Initial Quality Study, putting the Ford and Mercury brands among the best in the industry, placing the Ford and Mercury brands among the study’s top ten brands scoring highest in initial quality.

The Ford brand, which continues to outpace the overall industry’s quality improvement, now has posted eight consecutive years of gains in the closely watched quality study based on consumer evaluations after the first three months of new-vehicle ownership. Overall, the Ford brand improved by 10 points over last year’s study.

“It is gratifying to see our commitment to quality paying off,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. “Ford has demonstrated consistent and continuous quality improvement and we won’t be satisfied until Ford is the industry’s global quality leader.”

Some of Ford’s most popular nameplates received top honors for their respective segment, including Ford F-150, Mustang, Edge and Mercury Sable.

J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 80,930 new 2009 model-year vehicle owners after they have driven their new vehicles for three months. It measures problems per 100 vehicles and was based on November through February registrations.

“The Blue Oval is becoming synonymous with high quality with customers,” Fowler said. “We’re not only dramatically reducing defects, we are delivering the long-term durability and the superior craftsmanship that today’s customers demand.”