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Ford Honors 47 Top Suppliers for Superior Performance in 2007


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- Forty-seven World Excellence Awards presented at 10th anniversary of annual event

- World Excellence Awards demonstrate ONE Ford - award-winning suppliers working with Ford as ONE Team to produce world-class vehicles for global customers

DEARBORN, Mich., April 18 -- Ford Motor Company has recognized 47 top global suppliers at 57 locations for their work in helping Ford develop high quality, lower cost vehicles that customers want. The World Excellence Awards, which celebrated its 10th anniversary with a ceremony earlier this week, also recognize suppliers for embracing Ford's vision of profitable growth, teamwork and a better world.

"This marks the tenth year we have honored world-class suppliers for extraordinary contributions that directly impact Ford's ability to deliver high quality vehicles and customer satisfaction," said Tony Brown, group vice president, Global Purchasing. "This commitment to excellence is coming through in the latest quality data, which show Ford's initial quality in North America is now equal to the best in the industry. These successes belong not just to Ford -- but our suppliers as well."

"It is a pleasure to recognize the technical excellence of our supplier partners," said Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally. "As we work to deliver the products and services people really want and value, we are more fully integrating our suppliers into our processes. It is by working together that we will be able to deliver profitable growth for all involved with the Ford enterprise."

First distributed in 1998, the World Excellence Awards were jointly developed by Ford and its suppliers. There are three levels of awards: Gold, Silver and Recognition of Achievement. The gold and silver awards are presented to Ford's top production and non-production suppliers that consistently demonstrate superior quality, delivery and cost performance.

The third award, Recognition of Achievement, is given to suppliers that improve customer satisfaction by leading key initiatives: New Consumer-Focused Technology, Ford Warranty Reduction Program, Corporate Responsibility, and Diversity and Community Service.

Gold Award winners:

-- Autoliv BKI S.A.; La Pobla de Vallbona, Spain - Air Bags
-- Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Saarwellingen, Germany - Door Modules
-- Brose S.A.; Santa Margarida, Spain - Door Modules
-- Continental Automotive Mexicana S.A. de C.V.; Silao, Mexico - Brakes
-- Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems; Daegu, South Korea - A/C Compressors
-- Faurecia Interior Systems; Koeln, Germany - Door Modules
-- Faurecia Interior Systems; Valencia, Spain - Door Modules
-- Intier Automotive Seating; Eastleigh, United Kingdom - Seats
-- KUKA Systems Corporation North America; Sterling Heights, Michigan USA - Body Shop Construction
-- Penske Logistics; Reading, Pennsylvania USA - Logistics Services
-- Ronal Polska Sp.z o.o.; Walbrzych, Poland - Wheels
-- Superior Industries International, Inc.; Pittsburg, Kansas USA - Wheels
-- Visteon Sistemas Interiores Espana S.L.; Almussafes, Spain - Instrument Panels
-- Warn Industries, Inc.; Milwaukie, Oregon USA - Axles
-- Yumex Corporation; Yamaguchi, Japan - Exhaust Systems

Silver Award winners:

-- Active Aero Group; Belleville, Michigan USA - Air Charter Logistics
-- ArvinMeritor Do Brasil Sistemas Automotivos LTDA; Osasco, Brasil - Axles
-- Brose Chicago, Inc.; Chicago, Illinois USA - Door Modules
-- Cimarron Express, Inc.; Genoa, Ohio USA - Transportation
-- Dalian Harada Industry Co., LTD. ; Dalian, P.R. China - Antennas
-- Dawson Manufacturing Company; Benton Harbor, Michigan USA - Engine & Transmission Mounts
-- Dayco Europe S.r.l.; Chieti Scalo, Italy - FEAD Systems
-- Denso Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc.; Athens, Tennessee USA - Fuel Injectors
-- Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.; Rochester Hills, Michigan USA - Robots
-- FCC (Adams), LLC.; Berne, Indiana USA - Clutch Modules
-- Hankook Tire Co., LTD.; Geumsan-Gun, South Korea - Tires
-- Hayes Lemmerz Autokola, a.s.; Ostrava, Czech Republic - Wheels
-- Hensley Industries; Cincinnati, Ohio USA - Construction Management
-- Intier Automotive Seating; Excelsior Springs, Missouri USA - Seats
-- Lear Corporation; St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada - Seats
-- Lear Corporation; Liberty, Missouri USA - Seats
-- Lear Corporation; Genk, Belgium - Seats
-- M&M Cartage Co., Inc.; Louisville, Kentucky USA - Transportation
-- Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.; Kansas City, Kansas USA - Bumpers
-- Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.; Angola, Indiana USA - Bumpers
-- Pierburg GmbH; Neuss, Germany - Remanufactured Engines
-- Precision Cut Rubber LTD.; Corsham, United Kingdom - Instrument Panels
-- Premier Brasil Servicos de Suporte a Industria LTDA.; Sao Paulo, Brazil - Paint Shop Technical Services
-- Progressive Stamping, Inc.; Ottoville, Ohio USA - Frames & Cross Members
-- Robert Bosch GmbH; Immenstadt, Germany - Brakes
-- Robert Bosch Sistemas de Frenos, S.A. de C.V.; San Luis Potosi, Mexico - Brakes
-- Ronal Polska Sp.z o.o.; Jelcz-Laskowice, Poland - Wheels
-- Roush Industries, Inc.; Livonia, Michigan USA - Garage Services
-- Sanden Corporation; Gunma, Japan - A/C Compressors
-- TRW Polska Sp.z o.o.; Czestochowa, Poland - Air Bags
-- Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha, LTD.; Shizuoka-ken, Japan - Turbo Assemblies
-- Webasto Roof Systems, Inc.; Lexington, Kentucky USA - Sunroofs

Recognition of Achievement Award winners:

-- BASF Corporation; Florham Park, New Jersey USA - Corporate Responsibility
-- Gentex Corporation; Zeeland, Michigan USA - New Consumer Focused Technology
-- Gerdes GmbH; Kerpen, Germany - New Consumer Focused Technology
-- J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.; Lowell, Arkansas USA - Corporate Responsibility
-- Franklin Aluminum Co., Inc.; Franklin, Georgia USA - New Consumer Focused Technology
-- LUK GmbH & Co. oHG; Buehl, Germany - Warranty Reduction Program
-- Microsoft Corporation; Redmond, Washington USA - New Consumer Focused Technology
-- M-Sport LTD.; Cockermouth, United Kingdom - New Consumer Focused Technology
-- Renaissance Global Logistics; Detroit, Michigan USA - Diversity and Community Service
-- Robert Bosch Elektronik GmbH; Salzgitter, Germany - Warranty Reduction Program

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 245,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit FORD.