Exhibit 12 Ford Motor Company and Subsidiaries CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Nine For the Years Ended December 31 Months ------------------------------------------------------------ 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Earnings - -------- Income/(loss) before income taxes and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles $ 8,012 $ 6,793 $ 6,705 $ 8,789 $ 4,003 $ (127) Equity in net (income)/loss of affiliates plus dividends from affiliates 98 36 179 (182) (98) 26 Adjusted fixed charges a/ 8,101 10,801 10,556 8,122 7,648 8,113 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Earnings $16,211 $17,630 $17,440 $16,729 $11,553 $8,012 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends - -------------------------- Interest expense b/ $ 7,850 $10,464 $10,121 $ 7,787 $ 7,351 $7,987 Interest portion of rental expense c/ 225 300 396 265 266 185 Preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiaries and trusts d/ 41 55 199 160 115 77 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Fixed charges 8,116 10,819 10,716 8,212 7,732 8,249 Ford preferred stock dividend requirements e/ 61 95 459 472 442 317 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Total combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends $ 8,177 $10,914 $11,175 $ 8,684 $ 8,174 $8,566 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== Ratios - ------ Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.0 1.6 1.6 2.0 1.5 f/ Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends 2.0 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.4 g/ - - - - - - a/ Fixed charges, as shown below, adjusted to exclude the amount of interest capitalized during the period and preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiaries. b/ Includes interest, whether expensed or capitalized, and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium relating to any indebtedness. c/ One-third of all rental expense is deemed to be interest. d/ Preferred stock dividend requirements of Ford Holdings, Inc. (applicable for 1992 through 1995) increased to an amount representing the pre-tax earnings which would be required to cover such dividend requirements based on Ford's effective income tax rates for all periods except 1992. The U.S. statutory rate of 34% was used for 1992. Beginning in Fourth Quarter 1995, includes requirements related to Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of a subsidiary trust. e/ Preferred stock dividend requirements of Ford Motor Company, increased to an amount representing the pre-tax earnings which would be required to cover such dividend requirements based on Ford's effective income tax rates for all periods except 1992. The U.S. statutory rate of 34% was used for 1992. f/ Earnings inadequate to cover fixed charges by $237 million. g/ Earnings inadequate to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by $554 million. -22-