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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S FEBRUARY U.S. SALES DECLINE 11%

DEARBORN,  MI, March 1, 2001 - U.S.  customers  purchased or leased 303,657 cars
and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in
February,  down 11 percent from the same month a year ago.  Last  February,  the
company set a February sales record of 354,380.

"As  expected,   February  sales  fell  short  of  last  year's   record-setting
performance,"  said Bob Rewey,  Ford Motor Company Group Vice President,  Global
Consumer  Services and North America.  "Still,  we remain  optimistic  about the
prospects for a 'soft landing' and healthy auto sales."

"Similar to  January,  the annual  sales rate in  February  appears to be in the
mid-17 million  range," Rewey  continued.  "That's a far cry from the 19 million
sales rate in the first two months of 2000, but it is a very good start - better
than we  expected.  In fact,  it's  looking more and more like 2001 could be the
third best U.S. sales year in history."

Ford Motor  Company  truck sales were 178,309 and car sales were  125,348,  both
down 11 percent.

The Ford Escape achieved it best sales month ever as 13,525 U.S.  customers took
delivery of the all-new subcompact sport utility vehicle.


North American Production
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                                      -2-

Ford  is  adjusting  its  previously-announced   first  quarter  North  American
production  plan  upward by  10,000  units to  1,060,000  cars and  trucks.  The
company's  first  quarter 2001 North  American  production is down 210,000 units
(16%)  compared with the first quarter  2000.  In the second  quarter 2001,  the
company  plans to produce  1,250,000  cars and trucks,  down  69,000  units (5%)
compared with the second quarter 2000.