SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: March 2, 2001
(Date of earliest event reported)
FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-6368 38-1612444
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
One American Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48126
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 313-322-3000
-2-
Item 5. Other Events.
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Mr. Henry D. G. Wallace, Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Ford Motor Company ("Ford"), is announcing today, March 2, 2001, that Ford is
comfortable with the consensus analysts' earnings estimate for Ford of 51 cents
per diluted share for the first quarter of 2001, as reported by First Call
Corporation, despite Ford's expectation that its United States marketing costs
as a percentage of gross revenue will be about 12% in the first quarter of 2001,
compared with 11% for last year's first quarter.
The foregoing constitutes "forward looking statements" within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
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 in the United States and Europe resulting
from currency fluctuations, industry overcapacity or other factors; a
significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the United States or
Europe, resulting from slowing economic growth; market acceptance of our new
products; currency fluctuations; economic difficulties in South America or Asia;
higher fuel prices; a market shift from truck sales in the United States;
lower-than-anticipated residual values for leased vehicles; labor or other
constraints on our ability to restructure our business; increased safety or
emissions regulation resulting in higher costs and/or sales restrictions; work
stoppages at key Ford or supplier facilities; and the discovery of defects in
vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns, increased
warranty costs or litigation.
SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated.
FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
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(Registrant)
Date: March 2, 2001 By: /s/Emily E. Smith-Sulfaro
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Emily E. Smith-Sulfaro
Assistant Secretary