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November 27, 2002
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This Week:

• DaimlerChrysler's Vision of the Future of Personal Transportation

• MINI USA Expands Personalization - Accessory Items Now Parts Of "Build-Your-Own" Configurator On MINI USA.COM 

• Wixom Assembly To Build Ford GT Supercar

• Touareg market launch in Germany on November 22, 2002

• BMW Group Presents Intelligent Driver Assistance Systems

• Further recognition for Renault's safety Expertise

• Chrysler Group to Offer Diesel-Powered Jeep(R) Liberty For North American Market

• Toyota Announces Value-Driven Prices for the All-New 4Runner V6

• Ford To Open New Parts Distribution Center In Menomonie

• GM Powertrain Names Innovation Marine As Official OEM To Marineze Vortec HP3 8100 V-8 Marine Engine

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DEARBORN, Mich.- In a move to deliver vehicle service and repair parts to dealers faster and more efficiently, Ford Motor Company will open a new parts distribution center in October 2003 in Menomonie, Wis., approximately 60 miles east of the Twin Cities.

Ford will lease 200,000 square feet of building space to develop a High-Velocity Center just off Interstate 94 at Exit 41. Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., will oversee the project.

Last year, Ford announced plans to replace its existing group of 10 parts distribution facilities with 21 new centers located around the country. This will create a nationwide network of specialized parts hubs that will allow dealers to order and receive parts every day, instead of the once-per-week standard under the previous system.

"At Ford Motor Company, we are absolutely committed to superior customer satisfaction. And we're not just talking about it, we're taking action," said Don Johnson, director, Global Parts Supply & Logistics, Ford Customer Service Division.

"There's no question that this new network will provide the most efficient and cost-effective parts delivery to our dealers throughout the country," Johnson continued. "In fact, for the eight new facilities that have opened thus far, dealer order-to-delivery time has improved 80 percent, and we've already seen a significant increase in customer satisfaction."

"We'd like to thank Ford Motor Company and its officials for choosing Menomonie for its distribution facility," said Menomonie Mayor Dennis Kropp. "The State of Wisconsin, including Secretary of Commerce Phil Alberts and his staff, and the City of Menomonie have worked diligently with Ford to make this announcement a reality. The new jobs and the investment being made by Ford are very important to us, in addition to what the marquee name also means to future growth. We feel fortunate to have won this decision against some very fine communities."

The High-Velocity Center in Menomonie will be one of 19 such facilities opened across the country. These centers will concentrate high-volume parts in locations close to dealers to provide daily delivery and improve parts availability for customers' repairs, while improving dealer inventory performance. Items distributed by these centers - such as filters and spark plugs -- account for more than 80 percent of dealers' needs for customer repairs.

The Menomonie facility will supply vehicle service and repair parts to about 400 dealers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) and Iowa. Dealers will order from 28,000 part numbers stocked in Menomonie, with 14,000 pieces picked and shipped to customers every day.

The Menomonie center will have about 50 employees, most transferring from other Ford Motor Company facilities.

New distribution centers in Memphis, Tenn.; Manteca (Sacramento), Calif.; Houston; Denver; Fort Worth, Texas; Phoenix; Ontario, Calif.; and Portland, Ore., have opened or are scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year. Other centers will be opened in key areas around the country through 2004.

(Nov. 21, 2002)