AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program on its entire 2009 model line. With this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in each vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The Carefree Maintenance Program will launch with the introduction of the Tiguan, Volkswagen’s all-new crossover utility vehicle.

“Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance Program is a great way to improve our owner loyalty for our brand, as well as increase consumer consideration” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “This program also differentiates us from our competition by allowing us to be the only automaker among our key competitors to offer a no-charge maintenance program” added Barnes.
The maintenance intervals covered under this program and detailed in each vehicle’s maintenance booklet are 10K, 20K, and 30K miles for all 2009 model year Volkswagens. Since all current Volkswagens use synthetic oil, combined with state-of-the-art European engineering, a 5K oil change is no longer necessary. This means that Volkswagen customers can drive further between oil changes.

This program also covers the forthcoming Routan, Volkswagen’s all-new seven passenger minivan, which arrives in dealer showrooms later this year. Maintenance intervals for the Routan are 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K and 36K.

The Carefree Maintenance Program also includes a courtesy vehicle check. This allows owners to return to the dealership from which they purchased their 2009 model year Volkswagen within 90 days or 6,000 miles, whichever occurs first, for a full review of the vehicles benefits and features, and to have their vehicle checked at no charge.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com.

Ford Performance Website

DEARBORN, Mich., April 17, 2007 – Ford Racing has launched an all-new web-based initiative, www.FordPerformance.com, that puts a face and a place on Ford Motor Company’s connection to enthusiast clubs and the performance aftermarket. The Ford Performance Group is centered on a web portal that helps facilitate a more interactive relationship between Ford and its past, present and future performance customers.

“We recognize the important role that Ford loyalists play in raising consumer awareness of Ford Motor Company,” noted Jamie Allison, Manager, Ford Racing Performance Group, “and performance enthusiasts tend to be the most passionate, active and influential customers of all. This new web-based asset allows us to consolidate our communications with them under one virtual roof. It will also enhance our all-important relationships with Ford-based clubs, coordinate our contact with Ford-centered events and help showcase the exciting new performance offerings from Ford – all in one place.

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Ford Wayne Assembly Plant

WAYNE, Mich., April 15, 2008 – Ford Motor Company said today that North American production of the Ford Focus will increase by nearly 30 percent in 2008 to keep pace with strong demand for the newly redesigned small car.

The new Focus – which delivers 35 miles per gallon and industry-first technology such as Ford SYNC™ – has been a hot seller since it began rolling off the assembly line at Ford’s Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant in late 2007.

In the first three months of 2008, Ford sold 49,070 Focus units – an increase of 23 percent from the same time period last year. Importantly, retail sales were up 35 percent, while fleet sales declined slightly. The Focus now claims 7.6 percent of the U.S. small car market, 1.2 percentage points better than a year ago.

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Drive One

DEARBORN, Mich., April 10, 2008 — Four hundred-plus employees, thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears as well as dealer insights are fueling Ford’s quest to win customers on the strength of its vehicle quality, fuel economy, safety advances and smart technology.

“The best part of Ford’s story is unfolding in the studios, labs, factories and dealerships, and we’re opening the door a bit, so people can see inside,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Marketing and Communications. “Customers are smart. When they meet our team and see what they’re working on, people will finally understand where the excellence in our products is coming from. That’s what this campaign is all about.”

This week alone, Ford hopes to reach 70 million Americans with the best thinking and hard work of engineers, scientists, designers and technical experts and dealers throughout the country, who have been working together since November to start telling Ford’s story.

Their collective effort is called “Drive one,” which chronicles in digital, TV and print media how Ford employees have closed the gap with Asian competitors on quality, advanced vehicle safety, made vehicles more fuel efficient and led the industry in developing in-car connectivity. It also invites people to drive a Ford and see for themselves how the company’s vehicles stack up versus the competition.

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Ford Wins EPA’s 2008 Energy STAR Award for its energy conservation efforts

DEARBORN, Mich., April 2, 2008 — Ford Motor Company’s actions to reduce the amount of energy used to manufacture vehicles and support its U.S. operations have earned it the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s coveted 2008 ENERGY STAR Award. A three-time ENERGY STAR Award winner, the 2008 award for Sustained Excellence recognizes Ford’s continued leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

Ford accepted the award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on April 1, 2008.

“Ford Motor Company is committed to the responsible use of resources,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Energy efficiency is critical to running a strong and successful business delivering both financial and environmental benefits.”

In 2007, Ford improved energy efficiency in the U.S. by 4.5 percent resulting in savings of approximately $18 million. Since 2000, Ford’s U.S. facilities have improved energy efficiency by nearly 30 percent, equivalent to the energy used to power 260,000 homes for a year.

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