Ford 2013 Annual Report Download - page 4

Ford Motor Company completed one
of its best years ever in 2013.
Led by record profits in North America and Asia Pacific Africa,
we achieved our fifth year in a row of positive net income.
We are now rated investment grade by four of the major
credit rating agencies.
Our strong performance enabled us to double the quarterly
dividend in 2013, and subsequently raise it by 25 percent in
the first quarter of 2014.
A Message from the Executive Chairman
2 Ford Motor Company | 2013 Annual Report
After achieving one of our best years, we are now
embarked on one of our most ambitious years, building
a strong foundation for future growth and profitability.
In 2014 we plan to go further by launching the most vehicles
worldwide in a single year in our history. Included in these
launches will be all-new versions of two iconic Ford vehicles,
Mustang and F-150.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Mustang will be
available for the first time in key markets in Europe and Asia.
The all-new F-150, part of America’s best-selling F-Series
lineup, is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150
ever – setting the standard for the future of trucks.
To support these product launches we are continuing with
our largest manufacturing expansion in the last 50 years.
We will increase capacity or add production in six of our
U.S. assembly plants, and are opening two new plants in
Asia, one in South America and one in Europe.
Our focus continues to be on producing vehicles that are
best-in-class in quality, environmental impact, safety and
innovative technology. The record number of new vehicles we
will introduce this year supports our goals of increased global
sales and market share, as well as our ongoing commitment
to reducing the environmental impact of our vehicles.
Our environmental commitment included the sale of more
than 85,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles
in the United States in 2013, the first full year all six of our
electrified vehicles were available. That represented a sales
increase of nearly 150 percent from the prior year.
We also introduced a Ford Fusion Hybrid automated research
vehicle with the University of Michigan and State Farm to
study autonomous driving and other advanced technologies.
This vehicle builds on a decade of automated driving research
at Ford and represents a vital step toward our vision for the
future of mobility. We are a leader in wireless automotive
communication technology, which will make driving safer,
ease traffic congestion and sustain the environment.
Our employees around the world are working together to
meet the needs of our customers and the issues confronting
our world. We have completed one of the most profitable and
successful years in our history, and are building a foundation
for even greater success in the future. We have a strong
leadership team, a great plan and growing momentum.
I look forward to progress and profitability for all.
Thank you for your continued support of our efforts.
William Clay Ford, Jr.
Executive Chairman
March 13, 2014