Ford Announces New SoCal Environmental Initiative
16 September 1998
Ford Motor Company Announces New SoCal Environmental InitiativeLincoln Mercury President Announces $1,000 Incentive to Retire Older Vehicles and Reduce Pollution in Southern California IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 15 -- Ford Motor Company today announced a pilot vehicle retirement program -- "Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!" -- designed to improve air quality and the safety of highways in Southern California by encouraging owners of older vehicles to turn them in for scrapping. In an address to the Orange County Forum of business and community leaders at the Irvine Marriott, the president of Irvine-based Lincoln Mercury said the program would initially be targeted at removing 1989 and older vehicles from roads in the L.A. basin. "`Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!' will make it easier and more affordable for Southern California residents to retire older cars -- whose fuel efficiency, safety features and emission levels are not up to current standards -- and to own newer vehicles -- sooner," said Mark Hutchins, president of Lincoln Mercury and Ford Motor Company vice president. "And, it will take the older vehicles off the road." "Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!" runs from October 3, 1998 to January 5, 1999 in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. Owners of '89 or older cars or light trucks can exchange their vehicle for $1,000 toward the purchase of a new '98 or '99 Lincoln, Mercury or Ford vehicle, or an eligible '96 or newer used vehicle. This $1,000 credit will be offered in addition to lower base prices and any other incentives available on the new vehicle. The trade-in vehicles will be "retired" -- inspected, assessed, drained of fluids, and scrapped for materials. Speaking for Ford Motor Company, Hutchins said: "California is both the center of automotive trends and a national leader in the development of environmental issues. Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers sell more cars and trucks in California than any other manufacturer and, as automotive industry leaders in California, want to be part of the solution to environmental concerns in the state. `Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!' is just one example of our commitment to partnering with the community." "Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!" is a pilot program that will be evaluated for future implementation in other parts of California and the nation at its completion in January 1999. In Germany, Ford launched a similar program, the "Clean and Safe" initiative, which has successfully retired 300,000 vehicles. Ford Motor Company is targeting Southern California because it has the highest smog levels in the nation. In addition to launching "Cleaner, Safer - Sooner!" Ford Motor Company through Lincoln Mercury is proud to be a major sponsor of several environmental programs in Southern California including the L.A. River Clean Up, Heal the Bay, and Orange County's Trails 4 All.