Ford Focused on Fuel Economy, Not Partnerships

Special Coverage

North American Int’l Auto Show

DETROIT – Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Alan Mulally says the U.S. auto maker is not pursuing partnerships with other auto makers.

“We’re not talking to anyone but ourselves,” Mulally tells journalists this morning at the North American International Auto show press preview, adding Ford did not consider entering an agreement with Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., as Chrysler LLC recently did to build small cars together.

“I think the thing that’s really going to bring us success is concentrating on fuel-economy improvements and carbon-dioxide reductions,” he says. Ford plans to increase fuel economy across its entire lineup annually, regardless of the size of the vehicle.

“I think the products we bring out now (will be) supportive of what customers want,” Mulally says. “We worked hard with government in Europe, U.S., and Asia to have fuel-economy improvements without sacrificing safety.”

Remarking on the long-awaited $2,500 Nano small car introduced by Tata Motors Ltd. last week in India, Mulally says it’s an interesting prospect and a “very neat innovation.”

However, he stops short of suggesting Ford would be interested in develop a similar car for emerging markets.

Meanwhile, Mulally expresses confidence in the success of Ford’s new, EcoBoost engine technology, which combines turbocharging with direct injection to deliver improved fuel economy and reduced carbon-dioxide emissions without sacrificing performance.

Mulally tells reporters that Jim Farley, Ford’s new marketing and communications chief, recently did a test drive of a 4-cyl. application of EcoBoost and said it beat anything his former employer, Toyota Motor Corp., has in the works.

“Jim said in all the years he’s been at Toyota, he’s never seen anything that even comes close to our new EcoBoost propulsion system,” Mulally says.

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