Ford to Burn Through $17 Billion in Cash by 2009

Ford Motor Co. says it expects to burn through some $17 billion in cash from 2007 to 2009, with more than half of the expenditures occurring next year.

“We expect cumulative automotive operating-related cash outflows of about $10 billion and cumulative cash expenditures for restructuring actions of about $7 billion,” Ford says in a 10-K regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The auto makers expects to have about $38 billion in cash at the end of the year, including the $18 billion in new financing it currently is seeking.

Ford also says it should have about $4 billion in automotive cash inflows over the 2007-2009 period, which “reflect the use of $3 billion in long-term VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Assn.) assets, proceeds from planned divestitures of Aston Martin (Lagonda Ltd.) and Automotive Protection Corp., offset partially by pension contributions.”

Beginning in 2007, Ford Motor Credit Co. is expected to suspend regular dividend payments, as Ford anticipates deterioration in overall total earnings resulting from decreased income at Ford Credit.

Ford also says it plans to continue investing roughly $7 billion in product development annually, as it has the past few years.