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Ford Showcases Female Leadership at Conference for Women

10 October 2000

    AUSTIN, Texas - Ford will sponsor the first annual Texas Conference for 
Women with engineering executive Mary Ellen Heyde, recognized as one of 
Automotive News' 100 Leading Women, speaking on October 10 at the Austin 
Convention Center.  The conference recognizes the contributions of women 
to the State of Texas and across America.  Featured speakers and seminar 
sessions will address major issues that women face today including career, 
technology and financial issues as well as health, education and family 
concerns.

    "Ford sees this event as a way to show women the faces of Ford and
showcase the great opportunities that women have in pursuing a career with
Ford Motor Company," said Heyde.  "Ford wants the women of America to see the
potential they have to advance in their careers as well as to make a
difference in the automotive industry."

    Heyde is Ford Vehicle Line Director for Windstar, Thunderbird and Mustang.
She will participate as a speaker and panelist in a moderated discussion on
women and executive leadership for the 21st century.

    On display will be Ford's concept minivan Windstar Solutions.

    Together with Maytag Corporation, a leading producer of home and
commercial appliances, Ford developed the ultimate concept minivan, Solutions,
to accommodate working mothers and their need to achieve home and work life
balance.  Solutions will show custom-designed Maytag appliances fit into the
Windstar production minivan.  Among Solutions' many appliance features are: a
Maytag refrigerator, microwave, washer/dryer, a Hoover utility vacuum, trash
compactor, voice activated home connection and entertainment package.

    "In 1997, a Ford product development team called Windstar Moms with 30
moms, 20 with children under three, played an integral role in developing
virtually every aspect of the 1999 Ford Windstar," said Heyde.  The team also
generated major family-oriented themes that Ford continues to integrate in
developing vehicles, like Windstar, in the future.

    Heyde said among the themes are safety and security, simplicity in life,
experience and restored family values.  "Windstar Solutions is a research-
driven concept vehicle showing the possibilities -- it's intended to gain
insight on options available for women looking to simplify their family life
while maintaining a successful career," Heyde said.

    This conference is a unique educational and networking opportunity and
Heyde said she looks forward to discussing Ford's on-going actions to increase
diverse representation at the highest levels of the corporation.