Ford F-150 is at the top of Cars.com list of top American-made vehicles.
The Ford F-150 is as all-American as it gets according to a recent report by Cars.com. When the site released its semiannual American-Made Index – which ranks vehicles based on the percentage of parts made domestically, location of vehicle assembly and how popular each car is with U.S. buyers – the F-150 came out on top for the fifth time in a row. This may be of key interest to business-use customers who rely on trucks for work and have a desire to champion U.S.-based industry by making sure those trucks are American-made.
Another reason for the F-150’s popularity is its long-term dependability. In a recent initial quality comparison [the first-quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System study conducted by RDA Group for Ford], the F-150 performed better than the Toyota Tundra in many categories of customer satisfaction and Things Gone Wrong (TGW). For instance, out of every 1,000 owners of 3-months-in-service vehicles, 168 reported TGW with their Tundra’s automatic transmission shift, while 74 reported TGW with the F-150 in the same category. F-150 customers said they were more satisfied with the overall transmission operation than Tundra owners: 84% to 78%.
Two other Ford vehicles join the F-150 on the American-Made Index: Ford Escape was ranked 7th, up from 9th, and Ford Explorer Sport Trac was ranked 10th in its debut to the list.
Quotes:
“There’s a core group of buyers out there who need a truck and want a truck for their job, or a combination of personal use and their job, and I think the truck we’ve got coming [the 2009 Ford F-150] hits the sweet spot.”
Mark Fields, Ford President of The Americas
“There’s still a very robust, very large group of people that need a truck, even at $4 or $4.50 a gallon.”
Jim Farley, Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Fuel economy isn't the only area where Ford is seizing the opportunity to reduce oil usage.
Thanks to a versatile agricultural wonder called the soybean, Ford is also cutting down on its use of petroleum-based products. In 2008, for example, the Ford Mustang became the industry's first vehicle to have foam seats made from a 5% soy-based polyol instead of the standard 100% petroleum. The move garnered Ford, along with partner Lear, a 2008 award from the Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC), held in Florida this month.
The company is using approximately 2.2 million pounds of soy foam in the 2008 Mustang. Based on this application alone, this more energy-conscious alternative potentially represents a carbon dioxide reduction of 605,000 pounds annually.
Mustang isn't the only product sporting the new seat cushions and seat backs. The 2008 Ford F-150 and Expedition, along with the Lincoln Navigator, also feature the soy-based materials. The Ford Escape will join the lineup in 2009.
Ford's soy research is partially funded by the United Soybean Board (USB), a group of farmers/leaders that oversees investments in soy-based technologies. Ford recently announced at the USB's Commodity Classic Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, that the company is aggressively examining other ways to replace petroleum with soy-based materials for automotive applications.
Ford is the only auto manufacturer financially supported by the USB to further progress with soy-related automotive applications.
Ford has perfected its soy foam formulation to replace up to 40% of the standard petroleum-based polyol with a soy derivative that meets Ford's strict performance requirements. Ford has licensed this 40% formulation to John Deere and Sears Manufacturing.
Audio Clip:
[audio:http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/wp-content/themes/SMPR/environment/USB_PressConference_News.mp3]
United Soybean Board's (USB) Commodity Classic Conference in Nashville.
Panel Participants:
Ike Boudreaux, USB Chairman
Dr. Matthew Zaluzec, manager of Ford's Material Research & Advanced Engineering Department
Don Borgman, marketing manager for John Deere North America
As diesel fans around the world anticipate National Biodiesel Day on March 18, the birthday of the famed engine inventor, Rudolf Diesel, Ford readies for customers the new 2011 Super Duty and its all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine with unsurpassed biodiesel compatibility.
Ford is adding an exciting new element to its sponsorship of the hit television series “American Idol,” giving the top 12 Idols a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own personalized 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Hello from Cologne to all the other Mustangs in foreign countries !
I went to Germany in the year 2006 and was sold to a guy who has been working for Ford for more than
23 years!! After a Ford Taunus in 1981, several Ford Escorts and several Ford Fiestas in the following years I am now his absolute favorite. He loves me and takes me to lots of Ford Mustang Reunions here in Germany. Meanwhile I have several Pony friends here :-)))
Good Luck to all of you !
Ford vehicles are still durable and easy to handle, but the women behind the wheel bear little resemblance to the hothouse flower of yesteryear.
Ford keeps buzz alive with Fiesta Movement's new social media push: http://bit.ly/d0yiY9 via @addthis ^EA #2010/03/16
What's the best selling small car in Europe and the No. 2 best selling car overall in Europe in Feb? Take a guess. http://bit.ly/cWGRI4 ^EA #2010/03/15
Another reason for the F-150’s popularity is its long-term dependability. In a recent initial quality comparison [the first-quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System study conducted by RDA Group for Ford], the F-150 performed better than the Toyota Tundra in many categories of customer satisfaction and Things Gone Wrong (TGW). For instance, out of every 1,000 owners of 3-months-in-service vehicles, 168 reported TGW with their Tundra’s automatic transmission shift, while 74 reported TGW with the F-150 in the same category. F-150 customers said they were more satisfied with the overall transmission operation than Tundra owners: 84% to 78%.
Two other Ford vehicles join the F-150 on the American-Made Index: Ford Escape was ranked 7th, up from 9th, and Ford Explorer Sport Trac was ranked 10th in its debut to the list.
