Exhibit 99.1
NEWS

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S MARCH U.S. SALES DECLINE 13%

FORD ESCAPE HELPS FORD DEALERS POST RECORD SUV SALES

DEARBORN,  MI, April 3, 2001 - U.S.  customers  purchased or leased 386,069 cars
and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in
March,  down 13 percent from the same month a year ago. Last March,  the company
recorded its highest sales month in history (441,701).

The Ford  Escape  achieved  it best sales  month ever as 16,232  customers  took
delivery of the all-new  subcompact  sport utility vehicle in March.  The Escape
helped Ford  Outfitters  deliver an any-month  record of "No  Boundaries"  sport
utility vehicles (75,216).

The  company's  Volvo and Land Rover  brands each posted  strong sales in March.
Volvo  achieved its second  highest sales month (12,496) and Land Rover achieved
its second highest March sales (2,107).

North American Production
Ford  is  reducing  its  previously-announced   second  quarter  North  American
production  plan by  20,000  units  to  1,230,000  cars  and  trucks,  primarily
reflecting the  elimination of one of three shifts of production at the Michigan
Truck Plant.  The company's  second




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quarter 2001 North  American  production  is 89,000 units (7%) lower than second
quarter 2000.