form10q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

T
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission File Number: 1-3950


FORD MOTOR COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
38-0549190
(State of Incorporation)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
   
One American Road, Dearborn, Michigan
48126
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)


(313) 322-3000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
T Yes                            £ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer T
Accelerated filer £
Non-accelerated filer £
Smaller reporting company £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
£ Yes                            T No


As of October 27, 2008, the registrant had outstanding 2,318,003,459 shares of Common Stock and 70,852,076 shares of Class B Stock.

Exhibit index located on page number 64.
 


 
 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Periods Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(in millions, except per share amounts)

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
Sales and revenues
                       
Automotive sales
  $ 27,733     $ 36,270     $ 103,907     $ 115,006  
Financial Services revenues
    4,312       4,808       13,178       13,333  
Total sales and revenues
    32,045       41,078       117,085       128,339  
                                 
Costs and expenses
                               
Automotive cost of sales
    24,999       33,238       100,450       104,135  
Selling, administrative and other expenses
    4,574       4,904       16,974       15,828  
Interest expense
    2,382       2,733       7,339       8,210  
Financial Services provision for credit and insurance losses
    399       194       1,341       374  
Total costs and expenses
    32,354       41,069       126,104       128,547  
                                 
Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net
    (244 )     (216 )     (344 )     672  
Automotive equity in net income/(loss) of affiliated companies
    13       51       109       262  
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (540 )     (156 )     (9,254 )     726  
Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes
    (462 )     162       (811 )     467  
Income/(Loss) before minority interests
    (78 )     (318 )     (8,443 )     259  
Minority interests in net income/(loss) of subsidiaries
    51       62       262       205  
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
    (129 )     (380 )     (8,705 )     54  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations (Note 8)
                9       34  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ (8,696 )   $ 88  
                                 
AMOUNTS PER SHARE OF COMMON AND CLASS B STOCK (Note 9)
                               
Basic income/(loss)
                               
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.03  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
                      0.02  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.05  
Diluted income/(loss)
                               
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.03  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
                      0.02  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.05  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements

 
2

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

SECTOR STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Periods Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(in millions, except per share amounts)

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
AUTOMOTIVE
                       
Sales
  $ 27,733     $ 36,270     $ 103,907     $ 115,006  
Costs and expenses
                               
Cost of sales
    24,999       33,238       100,450       104,135  
Selling, administrative and other expenses
    2,740       3,016       8,804       10,314  
Total costs and expenses
    27,739       36,254       109,254       114,449  
Operating income/(loss)
    (6 )     16       (5,347 )     557  
                                 
Interest expense
    462       563       1,475       1,720  
                                 
Interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net
    (244 )     (216 )     (344 )     672  
Equity in net income/(loss) of affiliated companies
    13       51       109       262  
Income/(Loss) before income taxes — Automotive
    (699 )     (712 )     (7,057 )     (229 )
                                 
FINANCIAL SERVICES
                               
Revenues
    4,312       4,808       13,178       13,333  
Costs and expenses
                               
Interest expense
    1,920       2,170       5,864       6,490  
Depreciation
    1,596       1,620       7,544       4,599  
Operating and other expenses
    238       268       626       915  
Provision for credit and insurance losses
    399       194       1,341       374  
Total costs and expenses
    4,153       4,252       15,375       12,378  
Income/(Loss) before income taxes — Financial Services
    159       556       (2,197 )     955  
                                 
TOTAL COMPANY
                               
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (540 )     (156 )     (9,254 )     726  
Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes
    (462 )     162       (811 )     467  
Income/(Loss) before minority interests
    (78 )     (318 )     (8,443 )     259  
Minority interests in net income/(loss) of subsidiaries
    51       62       262       205  
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
    (129 )     (380 )     (8,705 )     54  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations (Note 8)
                9       34  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ (8,696 )   $ 88  
                                 
AMOUNTS PER SHARE OF COMMON AND CLASS B STOCK (Note 9)
                               
Basic income/(loss)
                               
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.03  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
                        0.02  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.05  
Diluted income/(loss)
                               
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.03  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
                      0.02  
Net income/(loss)
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (3.89 )   $ 0.05  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements

 
3

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in millions)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 24,894     $ 35,283  
Marketable securities
    16,907       5,248  
Loaned securities
          10,267  
Finance receivables, net
    100,883       109,053  
Other receivables, net
    7,529       8,210  
Net investment in operating leases
    29,179       33,255  
Retained interest in sold receivables
    154       653  
Inventories  (Note 2)
    12,048       10,121  
Equity in net assets of affiliated companies
    3,065       2,853  
Net property
    30,253       36,239  
Deferred income taxes
    3,032       3,500  
Goodwill and other net intangible assets (Note 4)
    1,805       2,069  
Assets of discontinued/held-for-sale operations (Note 8)
          7,537  
Other assets
    12,316       14,976  
Total assets
  $ 242,065     $ 279,264  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Payables
  $ 20,358     $ 20,832  
Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue
    62,931       74,738  
Debt
    156,793       168,787  
Deferred income taxes
    2,514       3,034  
Liabilities of discontinued/held-for-sale operations (Note 8)
          4,824  
Total liabilities
    242,596       272,215  
                 
Minority interests
    1,458       1,421  
                 
Stockholders’ equity
               
Capital stock
               
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2,304 million shares issued)
    23       21  
Class B Stock, par value $0.01 per share (71 million shares issued)
    1       1  
Capital in excess of par value of stock
    8,910       7,834  
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
    (571 )     (558 )
Treasury stock
    (183 )     (185 )
Retained earnings/(Accumulated deficit)
    (10,169 )     (1,485 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    (1,989 )     5,628  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 242,065     $ 279,264  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements

 
4

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SECTOR BALANCE SHEET
(in millions)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Automotive
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,607     $ 20,678  
Marketable securities
    11,477       2,092  
Loaned securities
          10,267  
Total cash, marketable and loaned securities
    22,084       33,037  
Receivables, net
    4,623       4,530  
Inventories (Note 2)
    12,048       10,121  
Deferred income taxes
    333       532  
Other current assets
    4,756       5,514  
Current receivable from Financial Services
    1,177       509  
Total current assets
    45,021       54,243  
Equity in net assets of affiliated companies
    2,466       2,283  
Net property
    30,027       35,979  
Deferred income taxes
    6,992       9,268  
Goodwill and other net intangible assets (Note 4)
    1,796       2,051  
Assets of discontinued/held-for-sale operations (Note 8)
          7,537  
Other assets
    5,826       5,614  
Non-current receivable from Financial Services
    2,520       1,514  
Total Automotive assets
    94,648       118,489  
Financial Services
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    14,287       14,605  
Marketable securities
    5,735       3,156  
Finance receivables, net
    103,796       112,733  
Net investment in operating leases
    25,838       30,309  
Retained interest in sold receivables
    154       653  
Equity in net assets of affiliated companies
    599       570  
Goodwill and other net intangible assets (Note 4)
    9       18  
Other assets
    5,492       7,217  
Total Financial Services assets
    155,910       169,261  
Intersector elimination
    (4,009 )     (2,023 )
Total assets
  $ 246,549     $ 285,727  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Automotive
               
Trade payables
  $ 15,154     $ 15,718  
Other payables
    3,152       3,237  
Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue
    25,036       27,672  
Deferred income taxes
    2,728       2,671  
Debt payable within one year
    1,282       1,175  
Total current liabilities
    47,352       50,473  
Long-term debt
    24,856       25,779  
Other liabilities
    32,622       41,676  
Deferred income taxes
    736       783  
Liabilities of discontinued/held-for-sale operations (Note 8)
          4,824  
Total Automotive liabilities
    105,566       123,535  
Financial Services
               
Payables
    2,052       1,877  
Debt
    130,960       141,833  
Deferred income taxes
    3,534       6,043  
Other liabilities and deferred income
    5,280       5,390  
Payable to Automotive
    3,697       2,023  
Total Financial Services liabilities
    145,523       157,166  
Minority interests
    1,458       1,421  
                 
Stockholders' equity
               
Capital stock
               
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2,304 million shares issued)
    23       21  
Class B Stock, par value $0.01 per share (71 million shares issued)
    1       1  
Capital in excess of par value of stock
    8,910       7,834  
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
    (571 )     (558 )
Treasury stock
    (183 )     (185 )
Retained earnings/(Accumulated deficit)
    (10,169 )     (1,485 )
Total stockholders' equity
    (1,989 )     5,628  
Intersector elimination
    (4,009 )     (2,023 )
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 246,549     $ 285,727  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements.

 
5

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Periods Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(in millions)

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
 
       
Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations
     
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
  $ 3,269     $ 13,242  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations
               
Capital expenditures
    (4,875 )     (4,215 )
Acquisitions of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
    (36,932 )     (42,827 )
Collections of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
    32,278       34,509  
Purchases of securities
    (49,881 )     (9,085 )
Sales and maturities of securities
    47,852       14,805  
Settlements of derivatives
    1,753       716  
Proceeds from sales of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
          705  
Proceeds from sale of businesses
    6,293       1,236  
Cash paid for acquisitions
    (13 )      
Transfer of cash balances upon disposition of discontinued/held-for-sale operations
    (925 )     (83 )
Other
    421       185  
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
    (4,029 )     (4,054 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations
               
Sales of Common Stock
    663       152  
Purchases of Common Stock
          (31 )
Changes in short-term debt
    (4,422 )     (2,558 )
Proceeds from issuance of other debt
    27,565       24,018  
Principal payments on other debt
    (32,768 )     (32,457 )
Other
    (531 )     151  
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
    (9,493 )     (10,725 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (136 )     64  
                 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
    (10,389 )     (1,473 )
                 
Cash flows from discontinued operations
               
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations
          16  
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations
           
Cash flows from financing activities of discontinued operations
           
                 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ (10,389 )   $ (1,457 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1
  $ 35,283     $ 28,896  
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued/held-for-sale operations at January 1
          (2 )
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (10,389 )     (1,457 )
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued/held-for-sale operations at September 30
           
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30
  $ 24,894     $ 27,437  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements

 
6

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED SECTOR STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Periods Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(in millions)

   
First Nine Months 2008
   
First Nine Months 2007
 
   
Automotive
   
Financial Services
   
Automotive
   
Financial Services
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations
                       
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
  $ (7,242 )   $ 8,088     $ 5,932     $ 5,247  
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities
                               
Capital expenditures
    (4,815 )     (60 )     (4,176 )     (39 )
Acquisitions of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
          (36,932 )           (42,827 )
Collections of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
          32,643             34,545  
Net (increase)/decrease of wholesale receivables
          2,058             2,027  
Purchases of securities
    (33,430 )     (16,721 )     (1,428 )     (7,657 )
Sales and maturities of securities
    33,676       14,176       1,469       13,336  
Settlements of derivatives
    1,063       690       748       (32 )
Proceeds from sales of retail and other finance receivables and operating leases
                      705  
Proceeds from sale of businesses
    2,595       3,698       1,079       157  
Cash paid for acquisitions
    (13 )                  
Transfer of cash balances upon disposition of discontinued/held-for-sale operations
    (925 )           (83 )      
Investing activity from Financial Services
    9                    
Investing activity to Financial Services
                (8 )      
Other
    144       277       (20 )     205  
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
    (1,696 )     (171 )     (2,419 )     420  
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities
                               
Sales of Common Stock
    663             152        
Purchases of Common Stock
                (31 )      
Changes in short-term debt
    56       (4,478 )     (69 )     (2,489 )
Proceeds from issuance of other debt
    116       27,449       189       23,829  
Principal payments on other debt
    (456 )     (32,042 )     (617 )     (31,840 )
Financing activity from Automotive
                      8  
Financing activity to Automotive
          (9 )            
Other
    (206 )     (325 )     207       (56 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
    173       (9,405 )     (169 )     (10,548 )
                                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (64 )     (72 )     342       (278 )
Net change in intersector receivables/payables and other liabilities
    (1,242 )     1,242       (777 )     777  
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
    (10,071 )     (318 )     2,909       (4,382 )
                                 
Cash flows from discontinued operations
                               
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations
                16        
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations
                       
Cash flows from financing activities of discontinued operations
                       
                                 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ (10,071 )   $ (318 )   $ 2,925     $ (4,382 )
                                 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1
  $ 20,678     $ 14,605     $ 16,022     $ 12,874  
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued/held-for-sale operations at January 1
                (2 )      
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (10,071 )     (318 )     2,925       (4,382 )
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued/held-for-sale operations at September 30
                       
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30
  $ 10,607     $ 14,287     $ 18,945     $ 8,492  

The accompanying notes are part of the financial statements

 
7

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

Our financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States for interim financial information and instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  We show our financial statements on both a consolidated and a sector basis for our Automotive and Financial Services sectors.  All intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated in both the consolidated and sector basis financial statements.  Reconciliations of certain line items are explained below in this Note, where the presentation of these intercompany eliminations or consolidated adjustments differ between the consolidated and sector financial statements.

In the opinion of management, these unaudited financial statements reflect a fair statement of the results of operations and financial condition of Ford Motor Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") of which we are the primary beneficiary for the periods and at the dates presented.  The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.  Reference should be made to the financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, updated in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2008 ("2007 Form 10-K Report").  For purposes of this report, "Ford," the "Company," "we," "our," "us" or similar references mean Ford Motor Company and our consolidated subsidiaries and our consolidated VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary, unless the context requires otherwise.  All held-for-sale assets and liabilities are excluded from the footnotes unless otherwise noted.  See Note 8 for details of held-for-sale operations.

Presentation of Balance Sheet

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities. The difference between the total assets and total liabilities as presented in our sector balance sheet and consolidated balance sheet is the result of netting of deferred income tax assets and liabilities.  The reconciliation between total sector and consolidated balance sheets is as follows (in millions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Sector balance sheet presentation of deferred income tax assets:
           
Automotive sector current deferred income tax assets
  $ 333     $ 532  
Automotive sector non-current deferred income tax assets
    6,992       9,268  
Financial Services sector deferred income tax assets*
    191       163  
Total
    7,516       9,963  
Reclassification for netting of deferred income taxes
    (4,484 )     (6,463 )
Consolidated balance sheet presentation of deferred income tax assets
  $ 3,032     $ 3,500  
                 
Sector balance sheet presentation of deferred income tax liabilities:
               
Automotive sector current deferred income tax liabilities
  $ 2,728     $ 2,671  
Automotive sector non-current deferred income tax liabilities
    736       783  
Financial Services sector deferred income tax liabilities
    3,534       6,043  
Total
    6,998       9,497  
Reclassification for netting of deferred income taxes
    (4,484 )     (6,463 )
Consolidated balance sheet presentation of deferred income tax liabilities
  $ 2,514     $ 3,034  
__________
*
Financial Services deferred income tax assets are included in Financial Services other assets on our sector balance sheet.

Ford Acquisition of Ford Motor Credit Company LLC ("Ford Credit") Debt.  In connection with our Registration Statement (No. 333-151355) filed on Form S-3 and the related prospectus dated June 2, 2008 and the prospectus supplements dated August 14, 2008 and October 2, 2008, we issued shares of Ford Common Stock from time to time in market transactions and used the proceeds therefrom to purchase outstanding Ford Credit debt securities maturing prior to 2012.

As of September 30, 2008, we issued 88,325,372 shares resulting in proceeds of $434 million.  During the quarter, we purchased, with $270 million of cash, debt securities of Ford Credit with a carrying value of $305 million and recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $35 million in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net.

On our consolidated balance sheet, the debt is no longer reported in our Debt balances.

 
8

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION (Continued)

On our sector balance sheet, the debt is still considered outstanding as it has not been retired or cancelled by Ford Credit.  Accordingly, on our sector balance sheet, the $305 million of debt is reported as Financial Services debt.  Likewise, included in Automotive marketable securities is $305 million related to Ford's purchase of the Ford Credit debt securities.  Consolidating elimination adjustments for these debt securities, and a related $7 million of accrued interest, are included in the Intersector elimination lines on the sector balance sheet.

Presentation of Cash Flows

Trading Securities.  Beginning with our statement of cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2008, we changed the presentation of cash flows to separately disclose the purchases of trading securities and the sale and maturities of trading securities as gross amounts within Cash flows from investing activities instead of Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations.  This change is in response to our election to apply the fair value option to our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities upon adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 ("SFAS No. 159") on January 1, 2008.

Wholesale and Other Finance Receivables.  The reconciliation between total sector and consolidated cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations is as follows (in millions):

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Sum of sector cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations
  $ 846     $ 11,179  
Reclassification of wholesale receivable cash flows from investing to operating for consolidated presentation (a)
    2,058       2,027  
Reclassification of finance receivable cash flows from investing to operating for consolidated presentation (b)
    365       36  
Consolidated cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations
  $ 3,269     $ 13,242  
__________
(a)
In addition to vehicles sold by us, the cash flows from wholesale finance receivables being reclassified from investing to operating include financing by Ford Credit of used and non-Ford vehicles.  100% of cash flows from wholesale finance receivables have been reclassified for consolidated presentation as the portion of these cash flows from used and non-Ford vehicles is impracticable to separate.
(b)
Includes cash flows of finance receivables purchased from certain divisions and subsidiaries of the Automotive sector.

Ford Acquisition of Ford Credit Debt.  The $270 million cash outflow related to our acquisition of Ford Credit's debt securities is presented differently on our consolidated and sector statements of cash flows.  The cash outflow is reclassified from Automotive purchases of securities within Cash flows from investing activities on our sector statement of cash flows to Principal payments on other debt line item within Cash flows from financing activities on our consolidated statement of cash flows.

NOTE 2. INVENTORIES

Inventories are summarized as follows (in millions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Raw materials, work-in-process and supplies
  $ 4,367     $ 4,360  
Finished products
    8,722       6,861  
Total inventories under first-in, first-out method ("FIFO")
    13,089       11,221  
Less: Last-in, first-out method ("LIFO") adjustment
    (1,041 )     (1,100 )
Total inventories
  $ 12,048     $ 10,121  

Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market.  About one-fourth of inventories were determined under the LIFO method.

 
9

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 3. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

Automotive Sector

Based upon the financial impact of rapidly-changing U.S. market conditions during the second quarter of 2008, we projected a decline in net cash flows for the Ford North America segment.  The decline primarily reflected:  (1) a more pronounced and accelerated shift in consumer preferences away from full-size trucks and traditional sport utility vehicles ("SUVs") to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as a result of higher fuel prices; (2) lower-than-anticipated U.S. industry demand; and (3) greater-than-anticipated escalation of commodity costs.  As a result, in the second quarter of 2008 we tested the long-lived assets of this segment for recoverability and recorded in Automotive cost of sales a pre-tax impairment charge of $5.3 billion, representing the amount by which the carrying value of these assets exceeded the estimated fair value.

The table below describes the significant components of the second quarter 2008 long-lived asset impairment of the Ford North America segment (in millions):

   
Ford North America
 
Land
  $  
Buildings and land improvements
    698  
Machinery, equipment and other
    2,833  
Special tools
    1,769  
Total
  $ 5,300  

Financial Services Sector

During the second quarter of 2008, higher fuel prices and the weak economic climate in the United States and Canada resulted in a more pronounced and accelerated shift in consumer preferences away from full-size trucks and traditional SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.  This shift in consumer preferences combined with a weak economic climate caused a significant reduction in auction values for used full-size trucks and traditional SUVs.  As a result, in the second quarter of 2008 we tested Ford Credit's operating leases in its North America segment for recoverability and recorded a pre-tax impairment charge in Selling, administrative and other expenses on our consolidated income statement and in Financial Services depreciation on our sector income statement of $2.1 billion, representing the amount by which the carrying value of certain vehicle lines in Ford Credit's lease portfolio exceeded the estimated fair value.

NOTE 4. GOODWILL AND OTHER NET INTANGIBLES

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in millions):

   
Automotive Sector
   
Financial Services Sector
       
                   
   
Ford North America
   
Ford Europe
   
Volvo
   
Total
   
Ford Credit
   
Total Company
 
Balances at December 31, 2007
  $ 89     $ 37     $ 1,360     $ 1,486     $ 18     $ 1,504  
Changes in goodwill:
                                               
Goodwill acquired
                                   
Other disposals
    (1 )                 (1 )     (9 )     (10 )
Dealer goodwill impairment*
    (88 )                 (88 )           (88 )
Effect of foreign currency translation and other
          (2 )     (65 )     (67 )           (67 )
Balances at September 30, 2008
  $     $ 35     $ 1,295     $ 1,330     $ 9     $ 1,339  
__________
*
Based on our expected reduction of our Ford North America dealership base, we recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of our investment in our consolidated North America dealerships.  We recorded the $88 million impairment of our investment in the first quarter of 2008 by writing down the related goodwill to its fair value of $0.

 
10

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 4. GOODWILL AND OTHER NET INTANGIBLES (Continued)

Other Net Intangibles

The components of net identifiable intangible assets are as follows (in millions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
   
Gross Carrying Amount
   
Less: Accumulated Amortization
   
Net Intangible Assets
   
Gross Carrying Amount
   
Less: Accumulated Amortization
   
Net Intangible Assets
 
Automotive Sector
                                   
Distribution networks
  $ 322     $ (104 )   $ 218     $ 335     $ (103 )   $ 232  
Manufacturing and production incentive rights
    271       (118 )     153       297       (74 )     223  
Other
    191       (96 )     95       199       (89 )     110  
Total Automotive sector
    784       (318 )     466       831       (266 )     565  
Total Financial Services Sector
    4       (4 )           4       (4 )      
Total
  $ 788     $ (322 )   $ 466     $ 835     $ (270 )   $ 565  

Our identifiable intangible assets are comprised of distribution networks with a useful life of 40 years, manufacturing and production incentive rights acquired in 2006 with a useful life of 4 years, and other intangibles with various amortization periods (primarily patents, customer contracts, technology, and land rights).  Pre-tax amortization expense, excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, was as follows (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Pre-tax amortization expense
  $ 27     $ 32     $ 77     $ 80  

Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, intangible asset amortization is forecasted to range from $95 million to $105 million per year for the next three years, and $20 million to $30 million per year thereafter.

NOTE 5. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

We consolidate VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary.  The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not necessarily represent additional claims on our general assets; rather, they represent claims against the specific assets of the consolidated VIEs.  Conversely, assets recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not necessarily represent additional assets that could be used to satisfy claims against our general assets.

The total consolidated VIE assets reflected on our September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 balance sheets are as follows (in millions):
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Automotive Sector
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 938     $ 742  
Other assets
    5,088       5,599  
Total assets
  $ 6,026     $  6,341  
                 
Financial Services Sector
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,407     $ 4,605  
Finance receivables
    61,513       60,361  
Net investment in operating leases
    12,232       17,461  
Total assets
  $ 78,152     $ 82,427  

Ford Credit uses special purpose entities ("SPEs") that are considered VIEs for most of its on-balance sheet securitizations.  Ford Credit's FCAR Owner Trust retail securitization program ("FCAR") issues commercial paper externally.  On occasion, we purchase the debt issued by FCAR.  At September 30, 2008, the asset-backed securities of FCAR supported $9.8 billion of FCAR's asset-backed commercial paper held by external investors and the remaining $1.1 billion was held by Ford Credit.  Further, Ford Credit repurchased $2.5 billion of asset-backed securities from FCAR during the third quarter of 2008 and FCAR used the proceeds to pay off maturing FCAR commercial paper.

 
11

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 5. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Continued)

We also have investments in other non-securitization related entities determined to be VIEs of which we are not the primary beneficiary.  The risks and rewards associated with our interests in these entities are based primarily on ownership percentages.  Therefore, we do not consolidate these entities and we account for them as equity method investments.  Our maximum exposure at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, was $424 million and $357 million for our Automotive sector and $148 million and $76 million for our Financial Services sector.  Any potential losses associated with these VIEs would be limited to the value of our invested capital or equity rights and, where applicable, receivables due from the VIEs.

NOTE 6. JOB SECURITY BENEFITS RESERVE AND EMPLOYEE SEPARATION ACTIONS

Automotive Sector

Job Security Benefits Reserve

We are required to pay most idled unionized hourly employees in North America a portion of their wages and benefits for a specified period of time ("Job Security Benefits").  We expense in Automotive cost of sales Job Security Benefits expected to be provided to our hourly employees at facilities that will be closed or at which shifts will be eliminated or, in the case of some Automotive Components Holdings, LLC ("ACH") plants, sold (see Note 18 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report).

The Job Security Benefits reserve includes an amount for benefits expected to be provided in their present form under the current International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America ("UAW") and National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada ("CAW") collective bargaining agreements.  The Job Security Benefits provided to our hourly employees are expensed when it becomes probable that employees will be permanently idled.  The following table summarizes the activity in the related Job Security Benefits reserve:

   
Reserve (in millions)
   
Number of Employees
 
   
First Nine Months 2008
   
Full Year 2007
   
First Nine Months 2008
   
Full Year 2007
 
Beginning balance
  $ 817     $ 1,036       8,316       10,728  
Additions to Job Security Benefits reserve/Transfers from voluntary separation program (i.e., rescissions)
    77       232       728       2,220  
Voluntary separations and relocations
    (239 )     (311 )     (2,764 )     (4,632 )
Benefit payments and other adjustments
    (129 )     (140 )     (1,821 )      
Ending balance
  $ 526     $ 817       4,459       8,316  

Included in "Benefit payments and other adjustments" above is a $344 million decrease in the third quarter of 2008, primarily due to a reduction in the number of employees in the reserve as a result of three ACH plants whose employees are no longer probable to be permanently idled.

The reserve balance above takes into account several factors, including the demographics of the population at each affected facility, redeployment alternatives, and recent experience relative to voluntary redeployments.  Due to the complexities inherent in estimating this reserve, our actual costs could differ materially.  We continue to expense costs associated with the small number of employees who are temporarily idled on an as-incurred basis.

Separation Actions

The costs of voluntary employee separation actions are recorded at the time of an employee's acceptance, unless the acceptance requires explicit approval by the Company.  The costs of conditional voluntary separations are accrued when all conditions are satisfied.  The costs of involuntary separation programs are accrued when management has approved the program, the affected employees have been identified, and termination is probable.

 
12

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 6. JOB SECURITY BENEFITS RESERVE AND EMPLOYEE SEPARATION ACTIONS (Continued)

UAW Voluntary Separations.  The following table summarizes the activity in the related separation reserve, with the expense recorded in Automotive cost of sales:

   
Reserve (in millions)
   
Number of Employees
 
   
First Nine Months 2008
   
Full Year 2007
   
First Nine Months 2008
   
Full Year 2007
 
Beginning balance
  $ 225     $ 2,435       1,374       26,351  
Voluntary acceptances
    222             1,832        
Payments/Terminations
    (297 )     (1,912 )     (2,440 )     (21,587 )
Rescissions and other adjustments
    14       (298 )     (61 )     (3,390 )
Ending balance
  $ 164     $ 225       705       1,374  

The ending balances shown above represent the cost of separation packages for employees who accepted packages but have not yet left the Company, as well as employees who accepted a retirement package and ceased duties, but who will remain on our employment rolls until they reach retirement eligibility.  Excluded from the table are 3,389 acceptances during the first nine months of 2008 of voluntary retirement incentive packages, the costs for which are included in pension and other postretirement employee benefits ("OPEB") separation costs.

Other Employee Separation Actions.  In the second quarter of 2008, we announced plans to reduce salaried employee costs in North America by 15%.  We completed those actions by the third quarter and recognized pre-tax charges in the United States of $65 million and $78 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, respectively.  In 2007, we completed our previously-announced North American salaried employee reduction and incurred $154 million of pre-tax charges in the United States through the first nine months of 2007.  These charges are reported in Automotive cost of sales and Selling, administrative and other expenses and exclude costs for pension and OPEB.

In addition, we had pre-tax charges for other hourly and salaried employee separation actions outside the United States. We recognized $70 million and $28 million for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $108 million and $280 million for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively.  These charges are reported in Automotive cost of sales and Selling, administrative and other expenses and exclude costs for pension and OPEB.

Financial Services Sector

Separation Actions

In 2007, we recognized pre-tax charges of $45 million in Selling, administrative and other expenses for employee separation actions.  The majority of these actions were associated with Ford Credit's North American business transformation initiative (i.e., the consolidation of its North American branches into its seven existing business centers).  These charges exclude costs for pension and OPEB.

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

Generally, for interim tax reporting we estimate one single tax rate for tax jurisdictions not subject to a valuation allowance, which is applied to the year-to-date ordinary income/(loss).  However, we manage our operations by multi-jurisdictional business units and thus are unable to reasonably compute one overall effective tax rate.  Accordingly, our worldwide tax provision is calculated pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 18, Accounting for Income Taxes in Interim Periods, which provides that tax (or benefit) in each foreign jurisdiction not subject to valuation allowance be separately computed as ordinary income/(loss) occurs within the jurisdiction.

SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes ("SFAS No. 109") requires that the provision for/(benefit from) income taxes be allocated between continuing operations and other categories of earnings (such as discontinued operations or other comprehensive income) for each tax jurisdiction.  In periods in which there is a year-to-date pre-tax loss from continuing operations and pre-tax income in other categories of earnings, tax provision is first allocated to the other categories of earnings.  A related tax benefit is then recorded in continuing operations.  Included in Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes are tax benefits of $630 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $1.3 billion for the first nine months of 2008 related to these intraperiod allocations.

Also included in third quarter 2008 Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes is a $94 million tax provision that represents a correction to amounts that were incorrectly recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income for the periods beginning with the fourth quarter of 2006 related to foreign deferred tax assets.  We have not restated our prior-period financial statements because we have concluded that the effect of correcting for this item and other immaterial out-of-period adjustments is not material.

 
13

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES (Continued)

Uncertain tax benefits are recognized in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 ("FIN 48") on a more-likely-than-not standard.  At any point in time, Ford's cross-border transfer prices are being evaluated by multiple governments around the world.  Over the next several months, bilateral discussions are expected to occur between the United States and a major trading partner.  It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to these unresolved transfer pricing disputes may significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months as a result of these discussions; an estimate of the reasonably possible change cannot be made at this time.

NOTE 8. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, HELD-FOR-SALE OPERATIONS, OTHER DISPOSITIONS, AND ACQUISITIONS

Automotive Sector

Discontinued Operations

Automotive Protection Corporation ("APCO").  Our North American operation APCO was sold in the second quarter of 2007.  Third quarter and first nine months results for this discontinued operation are shown in the table below (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Sales and revenues
  $     $     $     $ 13  
                                 
Operating income/(loss) from discontinued operations
  $     $     $     $ 2  
Gain/(Loss) on discontinued operations
                      51  
(Provision for)/Benefit from income taxes
                      (19 )
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
  $     $     $     $ 34  

Held-for-Sale Operations

Jaguar Land Rover.  During 2007, we committed to sell our Jaguar Land Rover operations in order to focus on our core Automotive operations and to build liquidity.  At December 31, 2007, we classified the assets and liabilities of these operations as held for sale on our balance sheet.  On March 25, 2008, we entered into a definitive agreement with Tata Motors Limited pursuant to which we would sell all of our interest in Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments upon completion (e.g., relating to working capital, cash, and debt), and agreed to contribute up to about $600 million to Jaguar and Land Rover pension plans.  In the first quarter of 2008, we recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $421 million reported in Automotive cost of sales related to the disposal of these operations.

On June 2, 2008, we completed the sale of Jaguar Land Rover.  At the time of the sale, we received $2.4 billion in cash proceeds and recognized a second quarter pre-tax loss of $106 million, reported in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net.

During the third quarter, we received $132 million in cash, which reflected final settlement of purchase price adjustments and recognized an additional pre-tax loss of $30 million reported in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net. With this, our pre-tax loss is $136 million.

The assets and liabilities of Jaguar Land Rover that were classified as held-for-sale operations at December 31, 2007 are summarized as follows (in millions):

   
December 31, 2007
 
Assets
     
Receivables
  $ 758  
Inventories
    1,530  
Net property
    2,246  
Goodwill and other net intangibles
    2,010  
Pension assets
    696  
Other assets
    297  
Total assets of the held-for-sale operations
  $  7,537  
         
Liabilities
       
Payables
  $ 2,395  
Pension liabilities
    19  
Warranty liabilities
    645  
Other liabilities
    1,765  
Total liabilities of the held-for-sale operations
  $  4,824  

 
14

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 8. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, HELD-FOR-SALE OPERATIONS, OTHER DISPOSITIONS, AND ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

As part of the transaction, we will continue to supply Jaguar Land Rover with powertrains, stampings, and other vehicle components.  We also committed to provide transitional support, including engineering, information technology, accounting, and other services.  Ford Credit will provide financing for Jaguar Land Rover dealers and customers during a transition period, which can vary by market, for up to 12 months.

ACH.  On April 14, 2008, ACH completed the sale of its glass business to Zeledyne, LLC.  The sale included the Nashville, Tulsa, and VidrioCar plants, along with the research and development, engineering, sales and aftermarket operations in Tennessee and Michigan.  These facilities continue to supply Ford with automotive glass products.  As a result of the transaction, we recognized a second quarter pre-tax loss of $285 million reported in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net. This loss was comprised of asset write-offs of $149 million, long-term contractual restructuring obligations of $104 million, and $32 million of transaction costs and other related expenses.

During the third quarter of 2008, the sale agreement between Ford and Zeledyne, LLC was amended resulting in an additional $19 million pre-tax loss reported in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net. The third quarter loss is primarily related to changes in long-term contractual restructuring obligations.  With this, our pre-tax loss is $304 million.

In the second quarter of 2008, we disclosed that we expected the sale of the Milan plant, which produces fuel tanks and bumper fascias, would be completed by the end of this year.  Accordingly, at June 30, 2008, ACH classified the assets and liabilities of the Milan plant as held for sale in our balance sheet.  We also recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $18 million in the second quarter of 2008, which represented the excess of net book value of the held-for-sale assets over the expected proceeds based on June 30, 2008 conditions.

During the third quarter of 2008, deteriorating domestic economic and industry conditions significantly reduced the probability of selling the Milan plant within the next 12 months, although negotiations are ongoing.  Accordingly, at September 30, 2008, the Milan plant has been reclassified and reported as held and used.  The pre-tax impairment charge of $18 million previously recorded in the second quarter of 2008 continues to be reported in Automotive cost of sales.

Other Dispositions

ACH.  During 2008, ACH terminated the non-binding agreement for the sale of the business at the Sandusky plant, which primarily produces lighting components, and the Saline plant, which primarily produces cockpit modules, instrument panels, door trim, and floor console products.  Neither of these businesses were classified as held for sale at September 30, 2008.

Financial Services Sector

Discontinued Operations

Triad Financial Corporation ("Triad").  In 2005, Ford Credit completed the sale of Triad.  Triad specialized in automobile retail installment sales contracts with borrowers who generally would not be expected to qualify, based on their credit worthiness, for traditional financing sources such as those provided by commercial banks or automobile manufacturers' affiliated finance companies, primarily through non-Ford dealerships.  In 2005, Ford Credit recognized a $4 million after-tax gain on disposal of discontinued operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Ford Credit received additional proceeds primarily based on better-than-anticipated securitized portfolio performance, and recognized a $9 million after-tax gain in Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations.

Other Dispositions

Nordic Operations.  During the second quarter of 2008, Ford Credit completed the creation of a new legal entity and transferred into it the majority of its business and assets from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.  By the end of the second quarter, Ford Credit had sold 50% of the new legal entity.  As a result of the sale, Ford Credit reduced Finance receivables, net by $1.7 billion, and we recognized a pre-tax gain in Financial Services revenues of $85 million, net of transaction costs and including $35 million of foreign currency translation adjustments.  Ford Credit reports its ownership interest in the new legal entity as an equity method investment.  The new legal entity will support the sale of Ford vehicles in these markets.

 
15

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 8. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, HELD-FOR-SALE OPERATIONS, OTHER DISPOSITIONS, AND ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

PRIMUS Financial Services Inc. ("PRIMUS Japan").  In April 2008, Ford Credit completed the sale of 96% of its ownership interest in PRIMUS Japan, Ford Credit's operation in Japan that offers automotive retail and wholesale financing of Ford and Mazda vehicles.  As a result of the sale, Finance Receivables, net were reduced by $1.8 billion, Debt was reduced by $252 million, and we recognized a pre-tax gain of $22 million, net of transaction costs and including $28 million of foreign currency translation adjustments, in Financial Services revenues.  Ford Credit reports its remaining ownership interest as a cost method investment.

Primus Finance and Leasing, Inc. ("Primus Philippines").  During the second quarter of 2008, Ford Credit completed the sale of its 60% ownership interest in Primus Philippines, which is Ford Credit's operation in the Philippines offering automotive retail and wholesale financing of Ford and Mazda vehicles.  Ford Credit also completed the sale of its 40% ownership interest in PFL Holdings, Inc., a holding company in the Philippines that owns the remaining 40% ownership interest in Primus Philippines.  As a result of the sale, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $5 million, net of transactions costs and including $1 million of foreign currency translation adjustments, in Financial Services revenues.

AB Volvofinans ("Volvofinans").  During the third quarter of 2007, Ford Credit sold a majority of its interest in Volvofinans, an unconsolidated subsidiary that finances the sale of Volvo and Renault vehicles through Volvo dealers in Sweden.  As a result of the transaction, we received $157 million as proceeds from the sale, and recognized a pre-tax gain of $51 million reported in Financial Services revenues.

NOTE 9. AMOUNTS PER SHARE OF COMMON AND CLASS B STOCK

The calculation of diluted income per share of Common and Class B Stock takes into account the effect of common stock equivalents, such as stock options and convertible securities, considered to be potentially dilutive.  Basic and diluted income/(loss) per share were calculated using the following (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Basic and Diluted Income/(Loss)
                       
Basic income/(loss) from continuing operations
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ (8,705 )   $ 54  
Effect of dilutive senior convertible notes (a)
                       
Effect of dilutive 6.50% Cumulative Convertible Trust Preferred Securities ("Trust Preferred Securities") (b)
                       
Diluted income/(loss) from continuing operations
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ (8,705 )   $ 54  
                                 
Basic and Diluted Shares
                               
Average shares outstanding
    2,280    
2004
      2,236       1,931  
Restricted and uncommitted-ESOP shares
    (1 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )
Basic shares
    2,279       2,003       2,235       1,930  
Net dilutive options and restricted and uncommitted-ESOP shares
    (c)     (c)     (c)     12  
Dilutive senior convertible notes (a)
                       
Dilutive convertible trust preferred securities (b)
                       
Diluted shares
    2,279       2,003       2,235       1,942  
__________
Not included in calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect:
(a)
538 million shares and the related income effect for senior convertible notes.
(b)
282 million shares and the related income effect for Trust Preferred Securities through August 2, 2007.  As of August 3, 2007, following the conversion of about 43 million of our Trust Preferred Securities, 162 million shares and the related income effect are not included in the calculation.  For further discussion of the conversion, see Note 16 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report.
(c)
28 million, 19 million, and 26 million contingently-issuable shares (primarily reflecting restricted stock units) for the third quarter of 2008, third quarter of 2007, and first nine months of 2008, respectively.

 
16

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements ("SFAS No. 157"), on January 1, 2008.  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The fair value should be based on assumptions that market participants would use, including a consideration of non-performance risk.

In determining fair value, we use various valuation techniques and prioritize the use of observable inputs.  The availability of observable inputs varies from instrument to instrument and depends on a variety of factors including the type of instrument, whether the instrument is actively traded, and other characteristics particular to the transaction.  For many financial instruments, pricing inputs are readily observable in the market, the valuation methodology used is widely accepted by market participants, and the valuation does not require significant management discretion.  For other financial instruments, pricing inputs are less observable in the marketplace and may require management judgment.

We assess the inputs used to measure fair value using a three-tier hierarchy based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market.  Level 1 inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and observable inputs such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity rates, and yield curves.  Level 3 inputs are not observable in the market and include management's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  The use of observable and unobservable inputs is reflected in our hierarchy assessment disclosed in the tables below.

Our fair value processes include controls that are designed to ensure that fair values are appropriate.  Such controls include model validation, review of key model inputs, analysis of period-over-period fluctuations, and reviews by senior management.

The following section describes the valuation methodologies used to measure fair value, key inputs, and significant assumptions.

Cash Equivalents – Financial Instruments.  We classify highly liquid investments, with a maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase, including U.S. Treasury bills, federal agency securities, and commercial paper rated A-1 / P-1 (or higher) as cash equivalents.  Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 157, we carried cash equivalents at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.  Effective January 1, 2008, we measure financial instruments classified as cash equivalents at fair value.  We use quoted prices where available to determine fair value for U.S. Treasury notes, and industry-standard valuation models using market-based inputs when quoted prices are unavailable, such as for government agency securities and corporate obligations.

Marketable Securities.  Our marketable securities portfolios include investments in government securities, corporate obligations and equities, and asset-backed securities with a maturity of greater than 90 days at the date of purchase.  Where available, including for U.S. Treasury notes and equities, we use quoted market prices to measure fair value.  If quoted market prices are not available, such as for government agency securities, asset-backed securities, and corporate obligations, prices for similar assets and matrix pricing models are used.  In certain cases, where there is limited transparency to valuation inputs, we may contact securities dealers and obtain dealer quotes.

Concurrent with our adoption of SFAS No. 157, we elected to apply the fair value option under SFAS No. 159 to our financial instruments, including marketable securities, loaned securities, and those classified as cash equivalents.  SFAS No. 159 permits entities to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value.  The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable.  Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date.  This election resulted in a cumulative after-tax increase of approximately $12 million to the opening balance of Retained earnings.  Prior to the election of SFAS No. 159, we classified our securities as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.  The unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities were recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), and the unrealized gains and losses for held-to-maturity securities were not recognized.

 
17

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

Derivative Financial Instruments.  As part of our risk management strategy, we enter into derivative transactions to mitigate exposures.  Our derivative instruments include interest rate swaps, currency swaps, currency and commodity forwards, currency and commodity options, and currency futures.  The vast majority of our derivatives are not exchange-traded and are over-the-counter customized derivative transactions.  Substantially all of our derivative exposures are with counterparties that have long-term credit ratings of single-A or better.

We estimate the fair value of our derivatives using industry-standard valuation models, including Black-Scholes and Curran's Approximation.  These models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based expectations for interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and commodity prices, and the contractual terms of the derivative instruments.

We include an adjustment for non-performance risk in the recognized measure of fair value of derivative instruments.  The adjustment reflects the full credit default spread (“CDS”) applied to a net exposure, by counterparty.  We use our counterparty's CDS when we are in a net asset position and our own CDS when we are in a net liability position.  At September 30, 2008, our adjustment for non-performance risk (relative to a measure based on unadjusted LIBOR) reduced derivative assets by $14 million and $52 million for Automotive and Financial Services sectors, respectively; and reduced derivative liabilities by $14 million and $88 million for Automotive and Financial Services sectors, respectively.

In certain cases, market data is not available and we use management judgment to develop assumptions which are used to determine fair value.  This includes situations where there is illiquidity for a particular currency or commodity, or for longer-dated instruments.  For longer-dated instruments where observable interest rates or foreign exchange rates are not available for all periods through maturity, we hold the last available data point constant through maturity.  For certain commodity contracts, observable market data may be limited and, in those cases, we generally survey brokers and use the average of the surveyed prices in estimating fair value.

Retained Interests in Sold Receivables.  We retain certain interests in receivables sold in off-balance sheet securitization transactions, including residual interest in securitizations and restricted cash.  We estimate the fair value of retained interests using internal valuation models, market inputs, and our own assumptions.  The three key inputs that affect the valuation of the residual interest cash flows include credit losses, prepayment speed, and the discount rate. The fair value of residual interest is estimated based on the present value of monthly collections on the sold finance receivables in excess of amounts needed for payment of the debt and other obligations issued or arising in the securitization transactions.  The fair value of the residual interest in securitizations and the cash reserve account is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis.

 
18

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

The following table summarizes the fair values of financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2008 (in millions):

   
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
   
Quoted Price in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Balance as of September 30, 2008
 
Automotive Sector
                       
Assets
                       
Cash equivalents – financial instruments (a) (b)
  $ 538     $ 5,231     $     $ 5,769  
Marketable securities (a) (c) (d)
    5,986       4,849       337       11,172  
Derivative financial instruments
          665       26       691  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 6,524     $ 10,745     $ 363     $ 17,632  
Liabilities
                               
Derivative financial instruments
  $     $ 388     $ 4     $ 392  
Total liabilities at fair value
  $     $ 388     $ 4     $ 392  
                                 
Financial Services Sector
                               
Assets
                               
Cash equivalents – financial instruments (a) (b)
  $ 1,799     $ 4,309     $     $ 6,108  
Marketable securities (a)
    3,215       2,515       5       5,735  
Derivative financial instruments
          1,831       354       2,185  
Retained interest in sold receivables
                154       154  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 5,014     $ 8,655     $ 513     $ 14,182  
Liabilities
                               
Derivative financial instruments
  $     $ 646     $ 309     $ 955  
Total liabilities at fair value
  $     $ 646     $ 309     $ 955  
 
_________
(a)
At September 30, 2008, approximately 85% of our financial instruments (including marketable securities and those classified as cash equivalents) were government securities, federal agency securities or equities for which an active and liquid market exists. For all securities, we rely on market observable data where available through our established pricing processes and believe this data reflects the fair value of our investment assets.  Instruments presented in Level 1 include U.S. Treasuries and equities.  Instruments presented in Level 2 include federal agency securities, corporate obligations, and asset-backed securities.  Instruments presented in Level 3 include certain corporate obligations and asset-backed securities.
(b)
Cash equivalents – financial instruments excludes time deposits, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and other cash equivalents reported at par value of $2 billion and $1.2 billion for Automotive sector and Financial Services sector, respectively, which approximates fair value.
(c)
Includes marketable securities and loaned securities.
(d)
Marketable securities balance excludes a $305 million investment in Ford Credit bonds held by the Automotive sector.  See Note 1.

 
19

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

The following table summarizes the changes in Level 3 financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the period ended September 30, 2008 (in millions):

   
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs
       
   
Fair Value at January 1, 2008
   
Total Realized/Unrealized Gains/ (Losses)
   
Net Purchases/ (Settlements) (a)
   
Net Transfers Into/(Out of) Level 3
   
Fair Value at Sept 30, 2008
   
Change In Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Instruments Still Held (b)
 
Automotive Sector
                                   
Marketable securities (c)
  $ 201     $ 3     $ 192     $ (59 )   $ 337     $ 2  
Derivative financial instruments, net (d)
    257       (62 )     (91 )     (82 )     22       (57 )
Total Level 3 fair value
  $ 458     $ (59 )   $ 101     $ (141 )   $ 359     $ (55 )
                                                 
Financial Services Sector
                                               
Marketable securities
  $     $     $ 5     $     $ 5     $  
Derivative financial instruments, net (e)
    (2 )     59       19       (31 )     45       42  
Retained interest in sold receivables (f)
    653       61       (560 )           154       (44 )
Total Level 3 fair value
  $ 651     $ 120     $ (536 )   $ (31 )   $ 204     $ (2 )
__________
(a)
Includes option premiums paid/received on options traded during the quarter.
(b)
For those assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2008.
(c)
Realized/unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities for the period presented are recorded in Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expenses), net on the income statement.  We recorded $8 million in the third quarter of 2008 and $3 million for the first nine months of 2008.
(d)
Reflects fair value of derivative assets, net of liabilities.  Realized/unrealized gains/(losses) on Automotive sector derivative financial instruments for the period presented are recorded to Automotive cost of sales ($(225) million for third quarter of 2008, and $(58) million for first nine months of 2008), and Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net ($(2) million for the third quarter of 2008 and $(4) million for first nine months of 2008) on the income statement.  See Note 11 for income statement classification by hedge designation.
(e)
Reflects fair value of derivative assets, net of liabilities.  Realized/unrealized gains/(losses) on Financial Services sector derivative financial instruments for the period presented are recorded to Interest expense ($4 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $11 million for first nine months of 2008), and Financial Services revenues ($34 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $48 million for first nine months of 2008) on the income statement.  See Note 11 for income statement classification by hedge designation.
(f)
Realized/unrealized gains/(losses) on the retained interests in sold receivables for the period presented are recorded in Financial Services revenues on the income statement ($42 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $105 million for the first nine months of 2008) and Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) on the balance sheet ($(28) for the third quarter of 2008 and $(44) million for the first nine months of 2008).

Non-Recurring Measurements.  There were no non-recurring fair value measurements recognized in the financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.  Total non-recurring fair value losses for the first nine months of 2008 for the Automotive and Financial Services sectors were $5.8 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively.

NOTE 11. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Our operations are exposed to global market risks, including the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, certain commodity prices and interest rates.  We enter into various derivatives, including interest rate, foreign currency and commodity forwards, options and swaps, to manage the financial and operational exposure arising from these risks.

We have elected to apply hedge accounting to certain derivative instruments in both the Automotive and Financial Services sectors.  For the Automotive sector, beginning in the third quarter of 2008, we have de-designated certain foreign exchange forwards and options designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions under critical terms match and re-designated under the "long-haul" method using regression analysis to assess hedge effectiveness.  Any new cash flow hedges will be designated using the "long-haul" method.  For the Financial Services sector, beginning in the first quarter of 2008, we have designated certain receive-fixed, pay-float interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate debt.  The risk being hedged is the risk of changes in fair value of the hedged item attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate.  We use regression analysis to assess fair value hedge effectiveness under the "long-haul" method.  Hedges that receive designated hedge accounting treatment are documented and evaluated for effectiveness at the time they are designated, as well as throughout the hedge period.  See Note 23 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report for a detailed description of our derivative instruments and hedge accounting designations.

 
20

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 11. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

Income Statement Effect of Derivative Instruments

The following table summarizes the estimated pre-tax gains/(losses) for each type of hedge designation for our Automotive and Financial Services sectors (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
   
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Income Statement Classification
Automotive Sector
                         
Cash flow hedges:
                         
Impact of discontinued hedges
  $ 1     $     $ 2     $ 187  
Automotive cost of sales
Ineffectiveness
    2             2        
Automotive cost of sales
Net investment hedges:
                                 
Ineffectiveness
                      (1 )
Automotive cost of sales
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                                 
Commodities
    (468 )     (26 )     (45 )     15  
Automotive cost of sales
Foreign currency derivatives on operating exposures (a) (b)
    145       285       671       306  
Automotive cost of sales
Foreign currency derivatives on investment portfolios
    39             4        
Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net
Other
    (2 )           (4 )     (58 )
Automotive cost of sales/Automotive interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net
                                   
Financial Services Sector
                                 
Fair value hedges:
                                 
Ineffectiveness
  $ (2 )   $     $ (45 )   $  
Financial Services revenues
Net interest settlements and accruals excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness
    12             51        
Interest expense
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                                 
Interest rate swaps
    (4 )     262       (49 )     24  
Financial Services revenues
Foreign currency swaps and forward contracts (a)
    302       (37 )     384       (498 )
Selling, administrative and other expenses
__________
(a)
These gains/(losses) were related to foreign currency derivatives and were partially offset by net revaluation impacts on foreign denominated assets and liabilities, which were recorded to the same income statement line item as the hedge gains/(losses).
(b)
Includes amounts released from Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) to income related to cash flow hedges de-designated prior to maturity.

Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments

We do not net positions with our counterparties for purposes of our balance sheet presentation and disclosure.  The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of our derivative instruments (in millions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
   
Fair Value Assets
   
Fair Value Liabilities
   
Fair Value Assets
   
Fair Value Liabilities
 
Automotive Sector
                       
Cash flow hedges
  $ 213     $ 44     $ 617     $ 195  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
    478       348       757       188  
Total derivative instruments
  $ 691     $ 392     $ 1,374     $ 383  
Financial Services Sector
                               
Fair value hedges
  $ 193     $     $     $  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
    1,992       955       2,811       1,349  
Total derivative instruments
  $ 2,185     $ 955     $ 2,811     $ 1,349  


Refer to Note 10 for details on fair value measurements.

 
21

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 12. RETIREMENT BENEFITS

New UAW Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement

The Ford UAW Hospital-Surgical-Medical-Drug-Dental-Vision Program ("H-S-M-D-D-V Program") currently provides selected health care benefits to eligible active UAW hourly employees, eligible retired UAW hourly employees, and eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents (the "Benefit Group").  In conjunction with negotiation of the 2007 collective bargaining agreement between Ford and the UAW, in November 2007 we entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with the UAW to terminate our obligation for postretirement health care benefits provided to the Benefit Group after December 31, 2009 (the "Implementation Date").  In March 2008, based on the MOU, we entered into a settlement agreement with the UAW and class representatives of former UAW-represented Ford employees (the "Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement") and submitted it to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (the "Court") for approval.  Effectiveness of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement was conditioned upon Court approval, and upon pre-clearance with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") of satisfactory accounting treatment for postretirement health care benefits provided to the Benefit Group.

Each of the conditions to effectiveness was satisfied during the third quarter of 2008.  The Court approved the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement on August 29, 2008, and the period for filing an appeal to the approval order expired on September 29, 2008 without any appeal having been filed.  We also successfully concluded our pre-clearance review of the accounting treatment with the SEC.  As a result, the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement is now effective (August 29, 2008 – the "Effective Date"), with final implementation scheduled for December 31, 2009.

The terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement fundamentally change the H-S-M-D-D-V Program benefits.  The obligation to provide retiree health care to the Benefit Group will transfer permanently to a new independent Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association Trust (the "New VEBA") at the Implementation Date, in exchange for certain assets to be transferred.  The trustees of the New VEBA will establish a new retiree health care plan (the "New Plan") for the Benefit Group which will be responsible for administering these benefits.  The 2005 UAW Benefit Trust Agreement (described below) will be superseded, and the New Plan will be a closed plan.  UAW-represented individuals newly employed by Ford after November 19, 2007 are eligible to participate only in a separate health care plan that consists of defined contributions made by Ford to individual participant accounts.

Pursuant to the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, we agreed to provide the following consideration in exchange for a full discharge of any obligation we may have to provide benefits to the Benefit Group:

 
Cash of $2.73 billion;
 
A $3 billion principal amount secured note, which bears interest from January 1, 2008 at 9.5% per annum, matures on January 1, 2018, and is secured on a second-lien basis with the collateral we have pledged as part of our secured Credit Agreement;
 
A $3.3 billion principal amount convertible note, which bears interest from January 1, 2008 at 5.75% per annum, matures on January 1, 2013, and is convertible into Ford Common Stock at a conversion price of $9.20 per share; and
 
An obligation to make 15 annual installment payments of $52.3 million beginning in April 2008.

In addition to the foregoing payments, we agreed to transfer the plan assets of the H-S-M-D-D-V Program VEBA and the UAW Benefits Trust (described below) (collectively, the "Plan Assets") to the New VEBA.  The H-S-M-D-D-V Program VEBA plan assets had a fair value of $3.5 billion at August 29, 2008.  We also are obligated to continue to make payments for ongoing retiree health care costs through 2009, which we estimate to have a present value of $1.5 billion as of August 29, 2008.

Accounting for the Assets to be Contributed Pursuant to the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement

On January 2, 2008, we established a Temporary Asset Account (the "TAA") which is owned by a newly-created, wholly-owned separate legal entity, Ford-UAW Holdings LLC (the "LLC").  The LLC was established for the purpose of holding and investing assets that will be transferred to the New VEBA.  The cash of $2.73 billion, together with the interest payments of $238 million due on the notes, and the first installment payment of $52.3 million, all referred to above, have been transferred to the TAA and have been invested in a manner consistent with the long-term nature of health care liabilities.  The TAA had a total market value of $2.8 billion and $2.5 billion reflecting realized and unrealized losses of $234 million and $484 million at August 29, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively.  The assets of the TAA do not meet the definition of a plan asset and are recorded in Cash and cash equivalents and Marketable securities on our balance sheet; the earnings or losses earned on the assets are recorded in Interest income and other non-operating income/(expense), net.

 
22

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 12. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (Continued)

The $3 billion secured note and the $3.3 billion convertible note were both issued to the LLC on April 9, 2008.  Because the LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary, these obligations and related interest expense have been eliminated in consolidation.  The present value of the notes discounted in accordance with their contractual terms was $3.1 billion for the secured note and $3.4 billion for the convertible note as of August 29, 2008.

Accounting for the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement

Effective Date (August 29, 2008)
The terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement became effective as of the date of Court approval.  We re-measured the H-S-M-D-D-V Program relating to the retiree health care benefits as of that date, and reduced the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation from $19.4 billion to $14.7 billion (the "New Benefit Obligation") and recognized an actuarial gain of $4.7 billion.  The gain offsets pre-existing actuarial losses, and the remaining net gain of $395 million will continue to be recognized as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income.

The New Benefit Obligation is composed of the following elements as follows (in billions):

   
August 29, 2008
 
Fair value of H-S-M-D-D-V Program VEBA assets
  $ 3.5  
Fair value of assets held in the TAA
    2.8  
Present value of the convertible note
    3.4  
Present value of secured note
    3.1  
Present value of installment payments
    0.4  
Transfer to New VEBA
    13.2  
Present value of retained benefit payments through 2009
    1.5  
Total New Benefit Obligation
  $ 14.7  

Upon adoption of the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, we also recognized in Automotive cost of sales a curtailment gain of $2.6 billion, which represents unrecognized prior service credits previously included as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income and attributable to years of service after December 31, 2009.  We will continue to amortize the remaining prior service credits of $421 million until the Implementation Date.

Subsequent to the Effective Date and Prior to Implementation Date
We will continue to record service costs and other elements of net periodic postretirement benefit costs, and will reduce the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as benefit payments for postretirement health care claims are paid.  As a result of the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, however, the basis for determining the cost of benefits to which the Benefit Group may be entitled has changed.  The new benefit formula provides that on the Implementation Date the Benefit Group will receive an in-kind contribution to the New VEBA of the assets described above, that at August 29, 2008 had a value of $13.2 billion, which will be adjusted for the realized and unrealized return through the Implementation Date.  Ford does not guarantee or warrant the investment returns of these assets.

Implementation Date (December 31, 2009)
We expect to fully settle our postretirement health care benefit obligation for the Benefit Group on December 31, 2009, when we transfer the assets in the LLC and the Plan Assets to the New VEBA.  At that time, we will derecognize the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and related assets.  At settlement, all remaining gains and losses included as components of Accumulated other comprehensive income will be recognized in income.

We will record the consideration transferred to the New VEBA, including the secured and convertible notes, at fair value.  Accordingly, we will recognize in income an additional net gain or loss as a result of the settlement.  Subsequent to settlement accounting, there will be no further accounting for postretirement health care benefits for the Benefit Group because we will no longer be providing postretirement health care benefits to the Benefit Group and will have settled irrevocably our obligation.

 
23

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 12. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (Continued)

Changes to the UAW Benefits Trust

In 2005, we entered into an agreement with the UAW (the "2005 Agreement") and a class of employees and retirees to increase retiree health care cost sharing under the H-S-M-D-D-V Program as part of our overall cost reduction efforts.  On July 13, 2006 we received the necessary court approval of the proposed modifications to the H-S-M-D-D-V Program and cost savings began to accrue as of that date.  The 2005 Agreement provided for increased cost sharing of health care expenses by retirees presently covered under the H-S-M-D-D-V Program and established an independent Defined Contribution Retiree Health Benefit Trust ("UAW Benefit Trust") which serves as a non-Ford sponsored Voluntary Employee Benefits Association ("VEBA").  The UAW Benefit Trust is used to mitigate the reduction in health plan benefits for certain eligible present and future retirees, surviving spouses, and other dependents, and is accounted for as a separate plan from the H-S-M-D-D-V Program.

The terms of the 2005 Agreement have been superseded by the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement.  Pursuant to the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, we remain obligated to make a third contribution of $43 million to the UAW Benefit Trust on January 1, 2009.  In addition, we made a cash contribution of $33 million on September 8, 2008 to the UAW Benefit Trust in full settlement of the stock appreciation rights owned by the trust.

The terms of the 2005 Agreement also call for the diversion to the UAW Benefit Trust of payments of a previously negotiated 2006 wage increase and a portion of negotiated cost-of-living increases through 2011 as they are earned.  In accordance with the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, these wage diversions will discontinue as of December 31, 2009, when the UAW Benefit Trust is expected to terminate in accordance with the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement.

Pension and OPEB expense is summarized as follows (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
 
   
Pension Benefits
       
   
U.S. Plans
   
Non-U.S. Plans
   
OPEB
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Service cost
  $ 94     $ 106     $ 91     $ 165     $ 80     $ 91  
Interest cost
    672       658       357       409       356       453  
Expected return on assets
    (865 )     (869 )     (382 )     (480 )     (64 )     (65 )
Amortization of:
                                               
Prior service costs/(credits)
    93       65       24       27       (232 )     (243 )
(Gains)/Losses and other
    5       12       56       115       58       294  
Separation programs
    43       (8 )     24       20       1       (7 )
(Gain)/Loss from curtailment
                            (2,603 )     (213 )
Costs allocated to Visteon
                            2       1  
Net expense/(income)
  $ 42     $ (36 )   $ 170     $ 256     $ (2,402 )   $ 311  


   
First Nine Months
 
   
Pension Benefits*
       
   
U.S. Plans
   
Non-U.S. Plans
   
OPEB
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Service cost
  $ 283     $ 332     $ 327     $ 486     $ 236     $ 280  
Interest cost
    2,016       1,963       1,218       1,203       1,217       1,348  
Expected return on assets
    (2,597 )     (2,609 )     (1,374 )     (1,410 )     (223 )     (198 )
Amortization of:
                                               
Prior service costs/(credits)
    281       199       78       80       (670 )     (757 )
(Gains)/Losses and other
    13       38       164       336       232       665  
Separation programs
    248       813       66       146       12       8  
(Gain)/Loss from curtailment
          176             (14 )     (2,714 )     (1,321 )
Costs allocated to Visteon
                            5       3  
Net expense/(income)
  $ 244     $ 912     $ 479     $ 827     $ (1,905 )   $ 28  
__________
*
Includes Jaguar Land Rover.

 
24

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 12. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (Continued)

Plan Contributions and Drawdowns

Our policy for funded plans is to contribute, at a minimum, amounts required by applicable laws, regulations, and union agreements.  From time to time, we make contributions beyond those legally required.

Pension.  During the first nine months of 2008, we contributed $1.9 billion to our worldwide pension plans, including benefit payments paid directly by the Company for unfunded plans.  We expect to contribute from Automotive cash and cash equivalents an additional $300 million in 2008, for a total of $2.2 billion this year (including payments related to Jaguar Land Rover).  Based on current assumptions and regulations, we do not expect to have a legal requirement to fund our major U.S. pension plans in 2008.

Life Insurance.  During 2008 we expect to withdraw about $80 million from our VEBA as reimbursement for U.S. hourly retiree life insurance benefit payments.


NOTE 13. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our operating activity consists of two operating sectors, Automotive and Financial Services.  Segment selection is based on the organizational structure we use to evaluate performance and make decisions on resource allocation, as well as availability and materiality of separate financial results consistent with that structure.

Automotive Sector

In the first quarter of 2008, we changed the reporting structure of our Automotive sector to separately disclose the following seven segments:  1) Ford North America, 2) Ford South America, 3) Ford Europe, 4) Volvo, 5) Ford Asia Pacific Africa, 6) Mazda, and 7) Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin.  Automotive sector prior period information has been reclassified into these seven segments, and is provided for these segments in the table below.  Included in each segment described below are the associated costs to design, develop, manufacture, and service vehicles and parts.

Ford North America segment includes primarily the sale of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles and related service parts in North America (the United States, Canada and Mexico).  In the first quarter of 2008, we changed the reporting structure of this segment to include the sale of Mazda6 vehicles by our consolidated subsidiary, AutoAlliance International, Inc. ("AAI") (previously included in the results for Ford Asia Pacific Africa).  We have reclassified prior period information to reflect this structural change to our segment reporting.

Ford South America segment includes primarily the sale of Ford-brand vehicles and related service parts in South America.

Ford Europe segment includes primarily the sale of Ford-brand vehicles and related service parts in Europe (including all parts of Turkey and Russia).

The Volvo segment includes primarily the sale of Volvo-brand vehicles and related service parts throughout the world (including in North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa).

Ford Asia Pacific Africa segment includes primarily the sale of Ford-brand vehicles and related service parts in the Asia Pacific region and Africa.

The Mazda segment includes the equity income/(loss) associated with our investment in Mazda (33.4% of Mazda's profit after tax), as well as certain of our Mazda-related investments.

 
25

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 13. SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

Prior to the sale of these brands, the Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin segment included primarily the sale of Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin vehicles and related service parts throughout the world (including in North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa).  In May 2007 and June 2008, respectively, we completed the sale of Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover; sales of Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and related service parts throughout the world are included within this segment for the period until each brand's respective date of sale.

The Other Automotive component of the Automotive sector consists primarily of centrally-managed net interest expense and related fair market value adjustments.

Transactions among Automotive segments generally are presented on a "where-sold," absolute-cost basis, which reflects the profit/(loss) on the sale within the segment making the ultimate sale to an external entity.  This presentation generally eliminates the effect of legal entity transfer prices within the Automotive sector for vehicles, components, and product engineering.  Beginning with the first quarter of 2008, income/(loss) before income taxes on vehicle component sales by Volvo or Jaguar Land Rover to each other or to any other segment and by the Ford-brand segments to either Volvo or Jaguar Land Rover are reflected in the results for the segment making the vehicle component sale.

Financial Services Sector

The Financial Services sector includes the following segments: 1) Ford Credit and 2) Other Financial Services.  Ford Credit provides vehicle-related financing, leasing, and insurance.  Other Financial Services includes a variety of business including holding companies, real-estate, and the financing and leasing of some Volvo vehicles in Europe.

(In millions)
 
Automotive Sector
 
   
Ford North America
   
Ford South America
   
Ford Europe
   
Volvo
   
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
   
Mazda
   
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
   
Other
   
Total
 
THIRD QUARTER 2008
                                                     
Sales/Revenues
                                                     
External customer
  $ 10,748     $ 2,712     $ 9,660     $ 2,916     $ 1,697     $     $     $     $ 27,733  
Intersegment
    172             174       18                               364  
Income
                                                                       
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (36 )     480       29       (484 )     (24 )     (1 )     (37 )     (626 )     (699 )
                                                                         
THIRD QUARTER 2007
                                                                       
Sales/Revenues
                                                                       
External customer
  $ 16,688     $ 2,064     $ 8,328     $ 3,844     $ 1,782     $     $ 3,564     $     $ 36,270  
Intersegment
    93             88       25                   42             248  
Income
                                                                       
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (689 )     386       254       (174 )     19       14       81       (603 )     (712 )

 
   
Financial Services Sector (a)
   
Total Company
 
   
Ford Credit
   
Other Financial Services
   
Elims
   
Total
   
Elims (b)
   
Total
 
THIRD QUARTER 2008
                                   
Sales/Revenues
                                   
External customer
  $ 4,237     $ 75     $     $ 4,312     $     $ 32,045  
Intersegment
    195       7       (2 )     200       (564 )      
Income
                                               
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    161       (2 )           159             (540 )
                                                 
THIRD QUARTER 2007
                                               
Sales/Revenues
                                               
External customer
  $ 4,718     $ 90     $     $ 4,808     $     $ 41,078  
Intersegment
    210       7             217       (465 )      
Income
                                               
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    546       10             556             (156 )
__________
(a)
Financial Services sector’s interest income is recorded as Financial Services revenues.
(b)
Includes intersector transactions occurring in the ordinary course of business.

 
26

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 13.  SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

(In millions)
 
Automotive Sector
 
   
Ford North America
   
Ford South America
   
Ford Europe
   
Volvo
   
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
   
Mazda
   
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
   
Other
   
Total
 
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2008
                                                     
Sales/Revenues
                                                     
External customer
  $ 42,077     $ 6,900     $ 31,374     $ 11,439     $ 5,143     $     $ 6,974     $     $ 103,907  
Intersegment
    461             663       75                   63             1,262  
Income
                                                                       
Income/(Loss) before income taxes (a)
    (7,634 )     1,125       1,336       (787 )     15       (63 )     38       (1,087 )     (7,057 )
Total assets at September 30
                                                                    94,648  
                                                                         
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2007
                                                                       
Sales/Revenues
                                                                       
External customer
  $ 54,208     $ 5,174     $ 26,163     $ 12,789     $ 5,278     $     $ 11,394     $     $ 115,006  
Intersegment
    410             513       93                   112             1,128  
Income
                                                                       
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (1,458 )     754       646       (175 )     9       107       939       (1,051 )     (229 )
Total assets at September 30
                                                                    123,349  


   
Financial Services Sector (b)
   
Total Company
 
   
Ford Credit
   
Other Financial Services
   
Elims
   
Total
   
Elims (c)
   
Total
 
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2008
                                   
Sales/Revenues
                                   
External customer
  $ 12,896     $ 282     $     $ 13,178     $     $ 117,085  
Intersegment
    675       19       (4 )     690       (1,952 )      
Income
                                               
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    (2,187 )     (10 )           (2,197 )           (9,254 )
Total assets at September 30
    155,305       10,237       (9,632 )     155,910       (4,009 )     246,549  
                                                 
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2007
                                               
Sales/Revenues
                                               
External customer
  $ 13,112     $ 221     $     $ 13,333     $     $ 128,339  
Intersegment
    651       21       (6 )     666       (1,794 )      
Income
                                               
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
    952       3             955             726  
Total assets at September 30
    162,245       10,620       (10,193 )     162,672       (1,438 )     284,583  
__________
(a)
For our Mazda segment, Income/(Loss) before income taxes primarily reflects a charge as determined under U.S. GAAP representing the impact on Ford of a goodwill impairment related to Mazda-owned dealerships in Japan.
(b)
Financial Services sector’s interest income is recorded as Financial Services revenues.
(c) 
Includes intersector transactions occurring in the ordinary course of business.

 
27

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 14. GUARANTEES

At September 30, 2008, the following guarantees and indemnifications were issued and outstanding:

Guarantees related to affiliates and third parties.  We guarantee debt and lease obligations of certain joint ventures, as well as certain financial obligations of outside third parties to support our business and economic growth.  Expiration dates vary, and guarantees will terminate on payment and/or cancellation of the obligation.  A payment by us would be triggered by failure of the guaranteed party to fulfill its obligation covered by the guarantee.  In some circumstances, we are entitled to recover from the third party amounts paid by us under the guarantee.  However, our ability to enforce these rights is sometimes stayed until the guaranteed party is paid in full, and may be limited in the event of insolvency of the third party or other circumstances.  The maximum potential payments under these guarantees total $7 million; the fair value ascribed to these guarantees was determined to be insignificant.  These guarantees and the guarantee of the Notes described in the succeeding paragraph were issued prior to December 31, 2002.  Therefore, fair value measurement and recognition is not required.

In 1996, we issued $500 million of 7.25% Notes.  In 1999, we entered into a de-recognition transaction to defease our obligation as primary obligor with respect to the principal of these notes.  As part of this transaction, we placed certain financial assets into an escrow trust for the benefit of the noteholders, and the trust became the primary obligor with respect to the principal (we became secondarily liable for the entire principal amount).  On October 1, 2008 we completed the transaction and settled our obligation related to these Notes.

In December 2005, we completed the sale of Hertz.  As part of this transaction, we provided cash-collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $200 million to support the asset-backed portion of the buyer's financing for the transaction.  Our commitment to provide the letters of credit expires no later than December 31, 2011 and supports the payment obligations of Hertz Vehicle Finance LLC under one or more series of asset-backed notes.  The letters of credit can be drawn upon on any date funds allocated to pay interest on the asset-backed notes are insufficient to pay scheduled interest payments, principal amounts due on the legal final maturity date, or when the balance of assets supporting the asset-backed notes is less than the outstanding balance of the asset-backed notes.  The carrying value of our deferred gain related to the letters of credit was $15 million at September 30, 2008.

In September 2008, we guaranteed debt of a joint venture to third party banks.  The maximum exposure as a result of these guarantees is $200 million, and the expiration dates of the guarantees range from 2014 to 2017.  A payment by us would be triggered by failure of the guaranteed party to fulfill its obligation covered by the guarantee.  We have recorded liabilities totaling $33 million related to these guarantees.

Indemnifications.  In the ordinary course of business, we execute contracts involving indemnifications standard in the industry and indemnifications specific to a transaction, such as the sale of a business.  These indemnifications might include but are not limited to claims relating to any of the following:  environmental, tax, and shareholder matters; intellectual property rights; power generation contracts; governmental regulations and employment-related matters; dealers, supplier, and other commercial contractual relationships; and financial matters, such as securitizations.  Performance under these indemnities would generally be triggered by a breach of terms of the contract or by a third-party claim.  We regularly evaluate the probability of having to incur costs associated with these indemnifications and have accrued for expected losses that are probable.  We also are party to numerous indemnifications which do not limit potential payment; therefore, we are unable to estimate a maximum amount of potential future payments that could result from claims made under these indemnities.

 
28

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Continued)

NOTE 14. GUARANTEES (Continued)

Product Performance

Warranty

Included in the warranty cost accruals are costs for basic warranty coverages on vehicles sold.  Additional service actions, such as product recalls and other customer service actions, are not included in the warranty reconciliation below, but are also accrued for at the time of sale.  Estimates for warranty costs are made based primarily on historical warranty claim experience.  The following is a tabular reconciliation of the product warranty accruals (in millions):

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Beginning balance
  $ 4,862     $ 5,235  
Payments made during the period
    (2,412 )     (2,489 )
Changes in accrual related to warranties issued during the period
    1,803       2,187  
Changes in accrual related to pre-existing warranties
    (42 )     (300 )
Foreign currency translation and other
    (96 )     207  
Ending balance
  $ 4,115     $ 4,840  


NOTE 15. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) is summarized as follows (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net income/(loss)
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ (8,696 )   $ 88  
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
                               
Foreign currency translation
    (2,024 )     872       (2,555 )     1,558  
Net gain/(loss) on derivative instruments
    (109 )     141       (136 )     (266 )
Net holding gain/(loss)
    (12 )     (8 )     (45 )     (40 )
Employee benefit-related
    1,443       (131 )     2,723       (678 )
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
    (702 )     874       (13 )     574  
Total comprehensive income/(loss)
  $ (831 )   $ 494     $ (8,709 )   $ 662  

 
29

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To Board of Directors and Stockholders
Ford Motor Company:

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Ford Motor Company and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2008 and the related consolidated statements of income for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.  These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

The accompanying sector balance sheets and the related sector statements of income and of cash flows are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements.  Such information has been subjected to the review procedures applied in the review of the basic financial statements.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, of cash flows and of stockholders’ equity for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 27, 2008, except with respect to our opinion on the consolidated financial statements insofar as it relates to the effects of the change in reportable segments discussed in Notes 13, 18 and 25 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is June 2, 2008, we expressed an unqualified opinion (with explanatory paragraphs relating to changes in the method of accounting for conditional asset retirement obligations in 2005, the method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, the timing of the annual goodwill and other intangible assets impairment testing, and the amortization method for special tools in 2006 and the method of accounting for uncertain tax positions in 2007) on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Detroit, Michigan
November 7, 2008

 
30

 

ITEM 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

OVERVIEW – Impact of and Actions in Response to Global Credit Market Crisis.

Automotive Sector.  During the third quarter and into the fourth quarter of 2008, a severe deterioration in global credit markets has adversely affected economic conditions and automotive sales around the world.  In the United States, industry demand for cars and trucks fell in the third quarter of 2008 to a seasonally-adjusted annual selling rate ("SAAR") of 13.1 million units.  In October 2008, U.S. industry sales were at a SAAR of 10.8 million units.  These compare with a SAAR of 15.1 million units in the first half of 2008, and 16.5 million units of full-year actual sales in 2007.

Demand for cars and trucks in the 19 European markets in which we participate also deteriorated significantly in the third quarter of 2008 to a SAAR of 16.3 million units, compared with a SAAR of 17.6 million units in the first half of 2008, and 18 million units of full-year actual sales in 2007.  In addition, vehicle sales growth rates in South America and the Asia Pacific region are slowing.

The recent declines in industry sales have led us to conclude that the global automotive industry downturn will be deeper, broader, and longer than previously assumed; we expect industry sales in 2009, compared with 2008, to decline, with some recovery beginning in 2010.

Meanwhile, commodity prices continue to be extremely volatile.  Crude oil and fuel prices declined significantly in September and October 2008, after having increased substantially during the spring and summer.  Steel prices remain high, but scrap steel prices continue to decline.  Prices of base metals (copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, nickel) and precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium), which we use in our business, also declined significantly in September and October 2008.

Notwithstanding lower-than-expected fuel prices, over the long term we expect that the shift in consumer preferences in the United States away from trucks and traditional SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles will continue.

As discussed in more detail in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below, we experienced substantial cash outflow during the third quarter of 2008, with our Automotive gross cash declining to $18.9 billion at September 30, 2008 from $26.6 billion at June 30, 2008.  In addition, we expect that our $11.5 billion revolving credit facility under our secured Credit Agreement will be reduced to $10.6 billion as a result of Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. ("Lehman CPI"), one the lenders thereunder, having filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on October 5, 2008.

We remain committed to the four key priorities of our plan – to aggressively restructure our business to operate profitably, accelerate development of new products our customers want and value, finance our plan and improve our balance sheet, and work together effectively as one team to leverage our global resources.  We plan to continue to make investments in products that customers want and value, with planned actions including:

 
Delivering best-in-class or among best-in-class fuel economy with every new vehicle introduced globally.
 
Introducing industry-leading, fuel-saving EcoBoost engines and doubling the number and volume of hybrid vehicles.
 
Leveraging our product strengths to deliver more global vehicles in the B, C, C/D (i.e., sub-compact, compact and medium-sized vehicle) and commercial van segments – by 2010, nearly 40% of our product entries in these segments are expected to be shared between Ford North America and Ford Europe, with 100% alignment expected by 2013.
 
Upgrading the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury lineup in North America almost completely by the end of 2010.
 
Bringing six European small vehicles to North America from global B-car and C-car platforms.
 
Retooling three North American truck plants to produce small, fuel efficient vehicles.
 
Supporting our global products with a lean, flexible global manufacturing system.

To support these new product investments and offset continued industry weakness, we are implementing a series of actions through 2010 that are expected to result in improvements to Automotive gross cash totaling a cumulative $14 billion to $17 billion.  These actions include:

 
Reducing North America salaried personnel-related costs by an additional 10% by the end of January 2009, primarily through personnel reductions or attrition.  Additional actions impacting compensation are also being implemented, as described below. These reductions are in addition to global personnel-related cost actions already taken or underway.
 
Further reduction of U.S. hourly employees by about 2,600 as a result of the most recent round of targeted buyouts – bringing Ford's total U.S. hourly reductions through buyouts in 2008 to about 7,000.
 
Eliminating merit pay raises for North America salaried employees in 2009.
 
Eliminating performance bonuses for salaried employees globally under the Annual Incentive Compensation Program for the 2008 performance year.
 
Suspending matching funds for U.S. salaried employees participating in Ford’s Savings and Stock Investment Plan, effective January 1, 2009.

 
31

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 
Reducing annual capital spending to a range of $5 billion to $5.5 billion – enabled by efficiencies in our global product development system and reduced spending in declining product segments.
 
Reducing engineering, manufacturing, information technology, and advertising costs through greater global efficiencies and alignment with volume assumptions.
 
Reducing inventories globally and achieving other working capital improvements.
 
Returning about $3 billion in Ford Credit capital consistent with Ford Credit’s smaller balance sheet and a focus on core Ford brands.
 
Continuing to develop incremental sources of Automotive funding, including divesting of non-core operations and assets, and implementing equity-for-debt swaps.

Because of the uncertainty of timing and eligibility requirements, our revised plan as described above does not include U.S. government assistance under recently enacted programs (e.g., loans under the $25 billion "advanced technology vehicle" loan program of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007).  We do, however, plan to fully avail ourselves of any such assistance.

Financial Services Sector.  Consistent with the overall market, Ford Credit has been impacted by volatility and disruptions in the asset-backed securities markets since August 2007.  Ford Credit now faces the increased challenges of the global credit crisis, including reduced access to public and private securitization markets and a significant increase in the credit spreads associated with both asset-backed and unsecured funding.  Since September 2008, consistent with the overall market, Ford Credit has experienced further reductions in demand for the asset-backed commercial paper issued under its FCAR Owner Trust retail securitization program (“FCAR”), and a greater percentage of such issuance has been on an overnight basis.  In September 2008, Ford Credit decided to reduce the assets of the FCAR program by $2.5 billion which lowered its outstanding FCAR asset-backed commercial paper, and on September 30, 2008 it held $1.1 billion of FCAR asset-backed commercial paper.  Ford Credit was able to fund the reduction of the FCAR assets and, in the second half of September 2008, overnight purchases of FCAR commercial paper by utilizing a portion of its other asset-backed liquidity programs.  As a result, compared with the second quarter of 2008, Ford Credit’s available capacity has become more heavily weighted in FCAR rather than in bank-sponsored asset-backed commercial paper conduits (“conduits”).  With respect to its committed capacity renewals in the third quarter of 2008, Ford Credit had a renewal rate of 73%, down from a first half 2008 renewal rate of 90%.  The renewals also required significantly higher spreads.

Despite these challenges, as more fully described in “Liquidity and Capital Resources" below, Ford Credit has increased its liquidity available for use from $23 billion at June 30, 2008 to $24.8 billion at September 30, 2008.  This increase is primarily the result of a reduction in its managed receivables balance from $140 billion to $130 billion.  In addition to the $24.8 billion of liquidity available for use, Ford Credit continues to carry committed capacity in excess of available assets of $5.5 billion that provides it with an alternative to uncommitted sources for funding future purchases or originations.  In addition to its traditional liquidity sources, Ford Credit registered to sell up to $16 billion of asset-backed commercial paper under the U.S. Federal Reserve's Commercial Paper Funding Facility (“CPFF”).  Each sale under the CPFF is for a term of 90 days and sales can be made up until April 30, 2009.  Through October 31, 2008, Ford Credit had sold to the CPFF about 25% of the total amount of asset-backed commercial paper Ford Credit is registered to sell under this program.  In addition, FCE Bank plc ("FCE") has accessed short-term European Central Bank (“ECB”) funding under its open market operations program, the obligations of which are backed by either notes or receivables.

To further support its liquidity, Ford Credit continues to implement asset-related actions while continuing to provide dealer and consumer financing programs focused on supporting the sale of Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo vehicles.  These actions include: the transition of Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda originations to other finance sources; divestitures; and alternative business and funding arrangements.

The recent reduction in auction values for used full-size pick-up trucks and traditional SUVs, together with the present credit market conditions, have made leasing vehicles less economical than in the past.  As a result, Ford Credit has reduced its lease originations while still offering leasing to consumers.  In the United States and Canada, we continue to focus on retail installment sale financing.

Ford Credit also continues to apply consistent underwriting and originations, and sound servicing practices.  However, a continued weakening U.S. economy has contributed to higher charge-offs in Ford Credit's consumer portfolio.  This increase primarily reflects both higher severities and repossessions.  While Ford Credit’s charge-offs are higher, the third quarter 2008 charge-offs are well below our historical peak in 2002.

Ford Credit recognizes that, among other things, lower industry sales could have a significant adverse effect on dealer profitability and creditworthiness.  Dealers are required to submit monthly financial statements that Ford Credit monitors for potential credit deterioration, which allows it to quickly take risk mitigation actions as necessary.

 
32

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our worldwide net loss was $129 million or $0.06 per share of Common and Class B Stock in the third quarter of 2008, improved from a net loss of $380 million or $0.19 per share in the third quarter of 2007.

Results by business sector for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
                 
Automotive sector
  $ (699 )   $ (712 )   $ 13  
Financial Services sector
    159       556       (397 )
Total Company
    (540 )     (156 )     (384 )
Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes
    (462 )     162       (624 )
Minority interests in net income/(loss) of subsidiaries *
    51       62       (11 )
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
    (129 )     (380 )     251  
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
                 
Net income/(loss)
  $ (129 )   $ (380 )   $ 251  
__________
*
Primarily related to Ford Europe's consolidated 41%-owned affiliate, Ford Otosan.  The pre-tax results for Ford Otosan were $106 million and $136 million in the third quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Included in Income/(Loss) before income taxes are items we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating activities (“special items”).  The following table details the third quarter 2008 and 2007 special items by segment or business unit (in millions):

   
Third Quarter – Income/(Loss)
 
Automotive Sector
 
2008
   
2007
 
Ford North America
           
Personnel-reduction programs
  $ (197 )   $ 35  
Accelerated depreciation related to AAI's acquisition of leased facility
    (82 )      
U.S. dealer reductions
    (38 )      
Gain/(Loss) on sale of ACH plants/assets
    (19 )     5  
Job Security Benefits (a)
    320       75  
Retiree health care (primarily curtailment gain) (b)
    2,569       213  
Total Ford North America
    2,553       328  
Ford Europe
               
Personnel-reduction programs/Other
    (40 )     (39 )
Volvo
               
Personnel-reduction programs/Other
    (26 )     (7 )
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
               
Personnel-reduction programs
    (28 )     (1 )
Impairment of equity interest in Malaysian joint venture
          (10 )
Total Ford Asia Pacific Africa
    (28 )     (11 )
Other Automotive
               
Returns on the assets held in the TAA
    (250 )      
Gain on purchase of debt securities
    35        
Loss on conversion of Trust Preferred Securities
          (632 )
Total Other Automotive
    (215 )     (632 )
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
               
Loss on sale of Jaguar Land Rover
    (30 )      
Sale of Aston Martin
          (1 )
Personnel-reduction programs/Net gains on certain undesignated hedges/Other
    (7 )     12  
Total Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
    (37 )     11  
Total Automotive sector
  $ 2,207     $ (350 )
__________
(a)
Primarily reserve adjustments for ACH plants whose employees are no longer probable to be permanently idled.
(b)
See Note 12 of the Notes to the Financial Statements for an explanation of the 2008 retiree health care curtailment gain related to the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement.

Included in Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes are tax benefits of $641 million for the third quarter of 2008 that we consider to be special items.  This amount primarily consists of a $630 million benefit resulting from the intraperiod tax allocation after taking into consideration both the pre-tax loss from continuing operations and the pre-tax income from other categories of earnings (e.g., other comprehensive income) for the first nine months of 2008.  Since this tax benefit is calculated on a year-to-date basis, fourth quarter 2008 pre-tax results from continuing operations and other categories of earnings could result in a partial or full reversal of the tax benefits claimed in the first nine-months of 2008.

 
33

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

The discussion below of Automotive and Financial Services sector results of operations is on a pre-tax basis.  Our results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Details by segment or business unit of Income/(Loss) before income taxes for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions), with Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin segment separated out from "ongoing" subtotals:

   
Third Quarter
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/ (Under) 2007
 
Ford North America
  $ (36 )   $ (689 )   $ 653  
                         
Ford South America
    480       386       94  
                         
Ford Europe
    29       254       (225 )
                         
Volvo
    (484 )     (174 )     (310 )
                         
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
    (24 )     19       (43 )
                         
Mazda
    (1 )     14       (15 )
Total ongoing Automotive operations
    (36 )     (190 )     154  
                         
Other Automotive
    (626 )     (603 )     (23 )
Total ongoing Automotive
    (662 )     (793 )     131  
                         
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
    (37 )     81       (118 )
Total Automotive sector
  $ (699 )   $ (712 )   $ 13  

Details by segment of Automotive revenues ("sales") and wholesale unit volumes for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007 are shown below:

   
Third Quarter
 
   
Sales (a) (in billions)
   
Wholesales (b) (in thousands)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford North America (c)
  $ 10.8     $ 16.7     $ (5.9 )     (36 )%     462       649       (187 )     (29 )%
                                                                 
Ford South America
    2.7       2.1       0.6       31       125       116       9       8  
                                                                 
Ford Europe
    9.7       8.3       1.4       16       410       422       (12 )     (3 )
                                                                 
Volvo
    2.9       3.8       (0.9 )     (24 )     66       102       (36 )     (35 )
                                                                 
Ford Asia Pacific Africa (d)
    1.7       1.8       (0.1 )     (5 )     111       129       (18 )     (14 )
Total ongoing Automotive operations
    27.8       32.7       (4.9 )     (15 )     1,174       1,418       (244 )     (17 )
                                                                 
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
          3.6       (3.6 )     (100 )           69       (69 )     (100 )
Total Automotive sector
  $ 27.8     $ 36.3     $ (8.5 )     (24 )     1,174       1,487       (313 )     (21 )
__________
(a)
2008 over/(under) 2007 sales percentages are computed using unrounded sales numbers.
(b)
Wholesale unit volumes generally are reported on a where-sold basis, and include all Ford-badged units and units manufactured by Ford that are sold to other manufacturers, as well as units distributed for other manufacturers.  Vehicles sold to daily rental car companies that are subject to a guaranteed repurchase option, as well as other sales of finished vehicles for which the recognition of revenue is deferred (e.g., consignments), are included in wholesale unit volumes.
(c)
Includes sales of Mazda6 by our consolidated subsidiary, AAI.
(d)
Included in wholesale unit volumes of Ford Asia Pacific Africa are Ford-badged vehicles sold in China and Malaysia by certain unconsolidated affiliates totaling about 41,000 and 51,000 units in 2008 and 2007, respectively.  "Sales" above does not include revenue from these units.

 
34

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Details of Automotive sector market share for selected markets for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007, along with the level of dealer stocks as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, are shown below:

   
Market Share
   
Dealer-Owned Stocks (a) (in thousands)
 
Market
 
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
United States (b)
    12.4 %     13.4 %  
(1.0
) pts.     478       538       (60 )
South America (b) (c)
    9.7       10.3       (0.6 )     46       30       16  
Europe (b) (d)
    8.6       8.6             342       299       43  
Volvo – United States/Europe (d)
    0.4/1.2       0.6/1.3       (0.2)/(0.1)       16/36       21/44       (5)/(8)  
Asia Pacific Africa (b) (e) (f)
    2.1       2.4       (0.3 )     56       54       2  
_________
(a)
Dealer-owned stocks represent our estimate of vehicles shipped to our customers (dealers) and not yet sold by the dealers to their retail customers, including some vehicles reflected in our inventory.
(b)
Market share includes only Ford and, in certain markets (primarily United States), Lincoln and Mercury brands.
(c)
South America market share is based, in part, on estimated vehicle registrations for our six major markets (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela).
(d)
Europe 2008 market share is based, in part, on estimated vehicle registrations for the 19 European markets we track (described in "Item 1. Business" of our 2007 Form 10-K Report).  Europe 2007 market share is based on actual vehicle registrations for these markets.
(e)
Asia Pacific Africa market share is based on estimated vehicle retail sales for our 12 major markets (Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam).
(f)
Dealer-owned stocks for Asia Pacific Africa include primarily Ford-brand vehicles as well as a small number of units distributed for other manufacturers.

Overall Automotive Sector

The improvement in earnings primarily reflected higher retiree health care curtailment gains ($2.4 billion) and the non-recurrence of a loss on the conversion of 43% of our Trust Preferred Securities (about $600 million).  These favorable factors were offset partially by unfavorable volume and mix, mainly in the North American full-size pickup truck segment ($2.1 billion); lower interest income, lower returns on the assets held in the TAA, and unfavorable mark-to-market adjustments for changes in currency exchange rates on intercompany loans, offset partially by lower interest expense (about $700 million); and higher personnel-reduction costs mainly in North America (about $200 million).

The table below details our third quarter 2008 cost changes at constant volume, mix and exchange, excluding special items (in billions):

Explanation of Cost Changes
 
2008 Better/(Worse) Than 2007
 
Pension and OPEB
Primarily health care efficiencies
  $ 0.4  
Spending-related
Primarily the non-recurrence of accelerated depreciation and amortization related to recently-closed facilities
    0.3  
Overhead
Primarily savings related to previous salaried personnel reductions
    0.3  
Manufacturing and engineering
More than explained by hourly and salaried personnel reductions in North America and efficiencies in our plants and processes
    0.2  
Advertising & sales promotions
Primarily lower costs in North America, offset by South America and Europe
     
Warranty-related
Primarily a slight cost underrun in Europe, offset by overruns in other locations
     
Net product costs
More than explained by higher commodity costs and unfavorable mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges
    (0.9 )
 
Total
  $ 0.3  

The decline in revenue primarily reflected lower volumes more than explained by North America, the non-recurrence of 2007 Jaguar Land Rover revenue, unfavorable product mix mainly in North America, and lower net pricing, offset partially by favorable changes in currency exchange rates.

Ford North America Segment.  The improvement in earnings primarily reflected higher retiree health care curtailment gains ($2.4 billion), favorable cost changes (primarily reflecting lower pension and OPEB, manufacturing and engineering, spending-related, and overhead costs, offset partially by higher net product costs) (about $500 million), and a reduction in reserves for Job Security Benefits (about $200 million).  These factors were offset partially by unfavorable volume and mix ($1.9 billion), lower net pricing (about $400 million), and higher personnel-reduction costs (about $200 million).  Unfavorable volume and mix primarily reflected a decline in U.S. industry volumes, unfavorable product mix, very low production of full-size pickup trucks during the third quarter of 2008 as we sold down dealer stocks of 2008 models prior to the launch of 2009 models, and lower market share.

 
35

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Ford South America Segment.  The increase in earnings primarily reflected higher net pricing, favorable volume and mix, and favorable changes in currency exchange rates, offset partially by unfavorable cost changes.  The unfavorable cost changes primarily reflected higher net product costs.

Ford Europe Segment.  The decrease in earnings primarily reflected unfavorable cost changes and unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, offset partially by favorable net pricing.  The unfavorable cost changes were more than explained by higher net product costs mainly due to unfavorable mark-to-market adjustments for commodity hedges, and higher manufacturing and engineering costs, offset partially by lower overhead costs and lower pension costs.

Volvo Segment.  The decline in earnings primarily reflected unfavorable volume and mix, mainly in the United States and Europe, largely due to lower industry volumes, lower market share, and unfavorable product mix.  The decrease in market share in the United States reflects in part a decision to decrease emphasis on small vehicles that have become less profitable with changes in currency exchange rates, and market segmentation shift away from SUVs.

Ford Asia Pacific Africa Segment.  The decline in results was more than explained by lower volume and mix and higher charges for personnel-reduction programs, offset partially by higher net pricing.

Mazda Segment.  The decline in results primarily reflected our share of a decrease in U.S. GAAP net earnings in Mazda.

Other Automotive.  The decrease in earnings primarily reflected lower returns on our cash portfolio and on the assets held in the TAA established pursuant to the terms of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, and unfavorable mark-to-market adjustments for changes in currency exchange rates on intercompany loans.  These factors were offset partially by the non-recurrence of a loss on the conversion of 43% of our Trust Preferred Securities and lower interest expense.

Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Segment.  The decline in results reflected the non-recurrence of 2007 profits and an additional loss on the sale of Jaguar Land Rover.

FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR

Details of Financial Services sector Income/(Loss) before income taxes for the third quarter of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions):

   
Third Quarter
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford Credit
  $ 161     $ 546     $ (385 )
Other Financial Services
    (2 )     10       (12 )
Total
  $ 159     $ 556     $ (397 )

Ford Credit

The decrease in earnings primarily reflected the non-recurrence of net gains related to market valuation adjustments to derivatives (about $200 million), a higher provision for credit losses (about $200 million), lower volume primarily related to lower average receivables (about $100 million), and the non-recurrence of the gain related to the sale of a majority of Ford Credit's interest in AB Volvofinans (about $100 million).  These factors were offset partially by higher financing margin primarily attributable to lower borrowing costs (about $100 million) and lower expenses including improved operating costs (about $100 million).

 
36

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Ford Credit's net finance receivables and net investment in operating leases are shown below (in billions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
   
Sept. 30, 2008
Over/(Under)
Dec. 31, 2007
 
On-balance sheet (including on-balance sheet securitizations)*
  $ 127.3     $ 141.1     $ (13.8 )
Unearned interest supplements – finance receivables
    1.3             1.3  
Securitized off-balance sheet
    1.1       6.0       (4.9 )
Managed
  $ 129.7     $ 147.1     $ (17.4 )
                         
Serviced
  $ 130.1     $ 148.0     $ (17.9 )
__________
*
At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, includes finance receivables of $72 billion and $67.2 billion, respectively, which have been sold for legal purposes in securitizations that do not satisfy the requirements for accounting sale treatment.  In addition, at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, includes net investment in operating leases of $12.4 billion and $18.9 billion, respectively, which have been included in securitizations that do not satisfy the requirements for accounting sale treatment.  These underlying securitized assets are available only for payment of the debt or other obligations issued or arising in the securitization transactions; they are not available to pay Ford Credit's other obligations or the claims of Ford Credit's other creditors until the associated debt or other obligations are satisfied.

The decrease in managed receivables from year-end 2007 was more than explained by lower North America receivables, the impact of divestitures and alternative business arrangements, changes in currency exchange rates, and the second quarter 2008 impairment charge for its North America segment operating leases.

The following table shows worldwide charge-offs (defined as credit losses, net of recoveries) for Ford Credit, for the various categories of financing during the periods indicated.  The loss-to-receivables ratios, which equal charge-offs on an annualized basis divided by the average amount of receivables outstanding for the period, excluding the allowance for credit losses and unearned interest supplements related to finance receivables, are shown below for Ford Credit's on-balance sheet and managed portfolios.

   
Third Quarter
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Charge-offs (in millions)
                 
On-balance sheet
  $ 296     $ 184     $ 112  
Managed
    303       200       103  
                         
Loss-to-Receivables Ratios
                       
On-balance sheet
    0.89 %     0.53 %  
0.36 6
 pts.
Managed
    0.89       0.54       0.35  

The increase in charge-offs and loss-to-receivables ratios for Ford Credit's on-balance sheet and managed portfolios, principally in the U.S. retail installment and lease portfolio, primarily reflected higher severity (i.e., average loss per repossession) and higher repossessions.  The higher severity is mainly due to the overall auction value deterioration in the used vehicle market, an increase in amount financed, and a higher mix of 72-month contracts for vehicles repossessed in Ford Credit's portfolio.

Shown below is an analysis of Ford Credit's allowance for credit losses and its allowance for credit losses as a percentage of end-of-period receivables (i.e., finance receivables excluding unearned interest supplements, and net investment in operating leases excluding the allowance for credit losses) for its on-balance sheet portfolio:

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
   
Sept. 30, 2008 Over/(Under) Dec. 31, 2007
 
                   
Allowance for credit losses (in millions)
  $ 1,547     $ 1,090     $ 457  
Allowance as a percentage of end-of-period receivables
    1.19 %     0.77 %  
0.42
 pts.

At September 30, 2008, Ford Credit's allowance for credit losses included about $150 million to reflect higher severities consistent with its second quarter 2008 updated assumptions.  The increase in allowance for credit losses is consistent with the increase in charge-offs.  The allowance for credit losses is primarily a function of portfolio quality, historical loss performance, and receivable levels.

 
37

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

In purchasing retail finance and lease contracts, Ford Credit uses a proprietary scoring system that classifies contracts using several factors, such as credit bureau information, FICO score, customer characteristics, and contract characteristics.  In addition to our proprietary scoring system, we consider other factors in the lending process, such as employment history, income, and capacity to pay.  As of September 30, 2008, about 4% of the outstanding U.S. retail finance and lease contracts in Ford Credit's serviced portfolio were classified as high risk at contract inception, about the same as year-end 2007.

FIRST NINE MONTHS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our worldwide net loss was $8.7 billion or $3.89 per share of Common and Class B Stock in the first nine months of 2008, down from net income of $88 million or $0.05 per share in the first nine months of 2007.

Results by business sector for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions):

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/ (Under) 2007
 
Income/(Loss) before income taxes
                 
Automotive sector
  $ (7,057 )   $ (229 )   $ (6,828 )
Financial Services sector
    (2,197 )     955       (3,152 )
Total Company
    (9,254 )     726       (9,980 )
Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes
    (811 )     467       (1,278 )
Minority interests in net income/(loss) of subsidiaries *
    262       205       57  
Income/(Loss) from continuing operations
    (8,705 )     54       (8,759 )
Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations
    9       34       (25 )
Net income/(loss)
  $ (8,696 )   $ 88     $ (8,784 )
__________
*
Primarily related to Ford Europe's consolidated 41%-owned affiliate, Ford Otosan.  The pre-tax results for Ford Otosan were $476 million and $372 million in the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 
38

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Included in Income/(Loss) before income taxes are items we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating activities (“special items”).  The following table details the first nine months 2008 and 2007 special items by segment or business unit (in millions):

   
First Nine Months – Income/(Loss)
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Automotive Sector
           
Ford North America
           
Fixed asset impairment charges
  $ (5,300 )   $  
Personnel-reduction programs
    (644 )     (800 )
Gain/(Loss) on sale of ACH plants/assets
    (324 )     5  
U.S. dealer consolidation (including dealer goodwill impairment)
    (185 )      
Accelerated depreciation related to AAI's acquisition of leased facility
    (82 )      
Ballard restructuring
    (70 )      
Pension curtailment charges
          (175 )
Job Security Benefits
    262       91  
Retiree health care (primarily curtailment gains)
    2,680       1,321  
Total Ford North America
    (3,663 )     442  
Ford Europe
               
Personnel-reduction programs/Other
    (54 )     (128 )
Volvo
               
Personnel-reduction programs/Other
    (58 )     (11 )
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
               
Personnel-reduction programs/Other
    (40 )     (11 )
Impairment of equity interest in Malaysian joint venture
          (10 )
Total Ford Asia Pacific Africa
    (40 )     (21 )
Mazda
               
Impairment of dealer network goodwill
    (214 )      
Other Automotive
               
Returns on the assets held in the TAA
    (250 )      
Gain on exchange and purchase of debt securities
    108        
Loss on conversion of Trust Preferred Securities
          (632 )
Total Other Automotive
    (142 )     (632 )
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
               
Jaguar Land Rover held-for-sale impairment
    (421 )      
Loss on sale of Jaguar Land Rover
    (136 )      
Net gains/(losses) on certain Jaguar Land Rover undesignated hedges
    (19 )     219  
Personnel-reduction programs
    (4 )     (102 )
Jaguar Land Rover operating profits for 2008/Other
    618        
Sale of Aston Martin (primarily the gain on sale)
          213  
Total Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
    38       330  
Total Automotive sector
    (4,133 )     (20 )
                 
Financial Services Sector
               
Ford Credit net operating lease impairment charges
    (2,086 )      
Total
  $ (6,219 )   $ (20 )

Included in Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes are tax benefits of $1.4 billion for the first nine months of 2008 that we consider to be special items.  This amount primarily consists of the tax effects of a $1.3 billion benefit resulting from the intraperiod tax allocation after taking into consideration both the pre-tax loss from continuing operations and the pre-tax income from other categories of earnings (e.g., other comprehensive income) for the first nine months of 2008.  Since this tax benefit is calculated on a year-to-date basis, fourth quarter 2008 pre-tax results from continuing operations and other categories of earnings could result in a partial or full reversal of the tax benefits claimed in the first nine-months of 2008.

 
39

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

The discussion below of Automotive and Financial Services sector results of operations is on a pre-tax basis.  Our results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Details by segment or business unit of Income/(Loss) before income taxes for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions), with Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin segment separated out from "ongoing" subtotals:

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford North America
  $ (7,634 )   $ (1,458 )   $ (6,176 )
                         
Ford South America
    1,125       754       371  
                         
Ford Europe
    1,336       646       690  
                         
Volvo
    (787 )     (175 )     (612 )
                         
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
    15       9       6  
                         
Mazda
    (63 )     107       (170 )
Total ongoing Automotive operations
    (6,008 )     (117 )     (5,891 )
                         
Other Automotive
    (1,087 )     (1,051 )     (36 )
Total ongoing Automotive
    (7,095 )     (1,168 )     (5,927 )
                         
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
    38       939       (901 )
Total Automotive sector
  $ (7,057 )   $ (229 )   $ (6,828 )

Details by segment of sales and wholesale unit volumes for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 are shown below:

   
First Nine Months
 
   
Sales (a) (in billions)
   
Wholesales (b) (in thousands)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford North America (c)
  $ 42.1     $ 54.2     $ (12.1 )     (22 )%     1,845       2,209       (364 )     (16 )%
                                                                 
Ford South America
    6.9       5.2       1.7       33       335       310       25       8  
                                                                 
Ford Europe
    31.4       26.1       5.3       20       1,442       1,431       11       1  
                                                                 
Volvo
    11.4       12.8       (1.4 )     (11 )     279       355       (76 )     (21 )
                                                                 
Ford Asia Pacific Africa (d)
    5.1       5.3       (0.2 )     (3 )     365       390       (25 )     (6 )
Total ongoing Automotive operations
    96.9       103.6       (6.7 )     (6 )     4,266       4,695       (429 )     (9 )
                                                                 
Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin
    7.0       11.4       (4.4 )     (39 )     125       215       (90 )     (42 )
Total Automotive sector
  $ 103.9     $ 115.0     $ (11.1 )     (10 )     4,391       4,910       (519 )     (11 )
__________
(a)
2008 over/(under) 2007 sales percentages are computed using unrounded sales numbers.
(b)
Wholesale unit volumes generally are reported on a where-sold basis, and include all Ford-badged units and units manufactured by Ford that are sold to other manufacturers, as well as units distributed for other manufacturers.  Vehicles sold to daily rental car companies that are subject to a guaranteed repurchase option, as well as other sales of finished vehicles for which the recognition of revenue is deferred (e.g., consignments), are included in wholesale unit volumes.
(c)
Includes sales of Mazda6 by our consolidated subsidiary, AAI.
(d)
Included in wholesale unit volumes of Ford Asia Pacific Africa are Ford-badged vehicles sold in China and Malaysia by certain unconsolidated affiliates totaling about 145,000 and 144,000 units in 2008 and 2007, respectively.  "Sales" above does not include revenue from these units.

 
40

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Details of Automotive sector market share for selected markets for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, along with the level of dealer stocks as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, are shown below:

   
Market Share
   
Dealer-Owned Stocks (a) (in thousands)
 
Market
 
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
United States (b)
    14.0 %     14.7 %  
(0.7
) pts.     478       538       (60 )
South America (b) (c)
    9.5       10.7       (1.2 )     46       30       16  
Europe (b) (d)
    8.7       8.7             342       299       43  
Volvo – United States/Europe (d)
    0.5/1.3       0.6/1.4       (0.1)/(0.1)       16/36       21/44       (5)/(8)  
Asia Pacific Africa (b) (e) (f)
    2.0       2.2       (0.2 )     56       54       2  
_________
(a)
Dealer-owned stocks represent our estimate of vehicles shipped to our customers (dealers) and not yet sold by the dealers to their retail customers, including some vehicles reflected in our inventory.
(b)
Includes only Ford and, in certain markets (primarily United States), Lincoln and Mercury brands.
(c)
South America market share is based, in part, on estimated vehicle registrations for our six major markets (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela).
(d)
Europe 2008 market share is based, in part, on estimated vehicle registrations for the 19 European markets we track (described in "Item 1. Business" of our 2007 Form 10-K Report).  Europe 2007 market share is based on actual vehicle registrations for these markets.
(e)
Asia Pacific Africa market share is based on estimated vehicle retail sales for our 12 major markets (Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam).
(f)
Dealer-owned stocks for Asia Pacific Africa include primarily Ford-brand vehicles as well as a small number of units distributed for other manufacturers.

Overall Automotive Sector

The decline in earnings primarily reflected fixed asset impairment charges in Ford North America ($5.3 billion); unfavorable volume and mix ($4.1 billion); lower interest income and lower returns on assets held in the TAA, offset partially by lower interest expense and favorable mark-to-market adjustments for changes in currency exchange rates on intercompany loans (about $800 million); lower net pricing (about $500 million); and the Jaguar Land Rover held-for-sale impairment of carrying value in the first quarter of 2008 (about $400 million).  These unfavorable factors were offset partially by favorable cost changes ($3 billion) and higher retiree health care curtailment gains ($1.4 billion).

The table below details our first nine months 2008 cost changes at constant volume, mix and exchange, excluding special items (in billions):

Explanation of Cost Changes
 
2008 Better/(Worse) Than 2007
 
Spending-related
Primarily the non-recurrence of accelerated depreciation and amortization related to recently-closed facilities and lower depreciation related to the North America impairment in the second quarter
  $ 0.9  
Manufacturing and engineering
More than explained by hourly and salaried personnel reductions in North America and efficiencies in our plants and processes
    0.7  
Pension and OPEB
Primarily health care efficiencies
    0.7  
Overhead
Primarily savings related to previous salaried personnel reductions
    0.6  
Advertising & sales promotions
Primarily lower costs in North America
    0.2  
Warranty-related
Primarily favorable adjustments to Ford Europe warranty reserves
    0.2  
Net product costs
More than explained by commodity cost increases and product content, offset partially by material cost reductions
    (0.3 )
 
Total
  $ 3.0  

The decline in revenue primarily reflected lower volumes in North America and Volvo and lower Jaguar Land Rover revenue, offset partially by favorable changes in currency exchange rates.

Ford North America Segment.  The decline in earnings primarily reflected fixed asset impairment charges ($5.3 billion), unfavorable volume and mix ($3.8 billion), and lower net pricing ($1.1 billion), offset partially by favorable cost changes ($2.3 billion), higher retiree health care curtailment gains ($1.4 billion), and favorable changes in currency exchange rates (about $400 million).  The favorable cost changes are more than explained by lower manufacturing and engineering costs, spending-related costs, and pension and OPEB costs.

 
41

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Ford South America Segment.  The increase in earnings primarily reflected higher net pricing, favorable volume and mix, and higher income from the parts and accessories business, offset partially by unfavorable cost changes.  The unfavorable cost changes primarily reflected higher net product costs.

Ford Europe Segment.  The increase in earnings primarily reflected favorable volume and mix, favorable cost changes, favorable net pricing, higher subsidiary profits mainly at Ford Otosan, and higher income from the parts and accessories business, offset partially by unfavorable currency exchange rates.  The favorable cost changes primarily reflected lower pension, warranty, overhead, and net product costs, offset partially by higher manufacturing and engineering costs.

Volvo Segment.  The decline in earnings primarily reflected unfavorable volume and mix, unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, and lower net pricing, offset partially by favorable cost changes.  The favorable cost changes primarily reflected lower manufacturing and engineering, net product, overhead, advertising and sales promotion, and warranty-related costs.

Ford Asia Pacific Africa Segment.  The increase in earnings primarily reflected favorable cost changes and higher net pricing and income from the parts and accessories business, offset partially by unfavorable currency exchange and unfavorable volume and mix.  The favorable cost changes primarily reflected lower net product, overhead, spending-related, and advertising and sales promotion costs.

Mazda Segment. The decline in results primarily reflected a charge as determined under U.S. GAAP representing the impact on Ford of a goodwill impairment related to Mazda-owned dealerships in Japan, offset by our share of an increase in net earnings in Mazda.

Other Automotive.  The decline in earnings primarily reflected lower returns on our cash portfolio and on the assets held in the TAA established pursuant to the terms of Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement.  These factors were offset partially by the non-recurrence of a loss on the conversion of 43% of our Trust Preferred Securities, lower interest expense, favorable mark-to-market adjustments for changes in currency exchange rates on intercompany loans, and gains on exchanges and purchases of debt securities.

Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Segment.  The decrease in earnings was primarily explained by the Jaguar Land Rover held-for-sale impairment of carrying value in the first quarter of 2008, the change from net gains to net losses on certain Jaguar Land Rover undesignated hedges, and the non-recurrence of the gain on sale of Aston Martin.

FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR

Details of Financial Services sector Income/(Loss) before income taxes for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 are shown below (in millions):

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford Credit
  $ (2,187 )   $ 952     $ (3,139 )
Other Financial Services
    (10 )     3       (13 )
Total
  $ (2,197 )   $ 955     $ (3,152 )

Ford Credit

The decline in results primarily reflected the significant decline in used vehicle auction values during the second quarter of 2008.  This decline in auction values contributed to: an impairment charge to Ford Credit's North America segment operating lease portfolio for contracts terminating beginning third quarter of 2008 ($2.1 billion); a higher provision for credit losses (about $900 million); and higher depreciation expense for leased vehicles (about $600 million).  Other factors to explain the decline in earnings included lower volume primarily related to lower average receivables (about $100 million), and the non-recurrence of the gain related to the sale of a majority of Ford Credit's interest in AB Volvofinans (about $100 million).  These factors were offset partially by higher financing margin primarily attributable to lower borrowing costs (about $300 million), the non-recurrence of costs associated with Ford Credit's North American business transformation initiative (about $200 million), lower expenses primarily reflecting improved operating costs (about $100 million), and a gain related to the sale of approximately half of Ford Credit's ownership interest in its Nordic operations (about $100 million).

 
42

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

The following table shows worldwide charge-offs (defined as credit losses, net of recoveries) for Ford Credit, for the various categories of financing during the periods indicated.  The loss-to-receivables ratios, which equal charge-offs on an annualized basis divided by the average amount of receivables outstanding for the period, excluding the allowance for credit losses and unearned interest supplements related to finance receivables, are shown below for Ford Credit's on-balance sheet and managed portfolios.

   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Charge-offs (in millions)
                 
On-balance sheet
  $ 771     $ 416     $ 355  
Managed
    800       464       336  
                         
Loss-to-Receivables Ratios
                       
On-balance sheet
    0.74 %     0.40 %  
0.34
 pts.
Managed
    0.75       0.42       0.33  

The increase in charge-offs and loss-to-receivables ratios for Ford Credit's on-balance sheet and managed portfolios, principally in the U.S. retail installment and lease portfolio, primarily reflected higher severity (i.e., average loss per repossession) and higher repossessions.  The higher severity is mainly due to the overall auction value deterioration in the used vehicle market, an increase in amount financed, and a higher mix of 72-month contracts for vehicles repossessed in its portfolio.

Residual Risk

Ford Credit is exposed to residual risk on operating leases and similar balloon payment products where the customer may return the financed vehicle to Ford Credit.  Residual risk is the possibility that the amount Ford Credit obtains from returned vehicles will be less than its estimate of the expected residual value for the vehicle.  Ford Credit estimates the expected residual value by evaluating recent auction values, return volumes for its leased vehicles, industry-wide used vehicle prices, marketing incentive plans, and vehicle quality data.

North America Retail Operating Lease Experience.  Ford Credit uses various statistics to monitor its residual risk:

 
Placement volume measures the number of leases Ford Credit purchases in a given period;
 
Termination volume measures the number of vehicles for which the lease has ended in the given period; and
 
Return volume reflects the number of vehicles returned to Ford Credit by customers at lease-end.

The following table shows operating lease placement, termination, and return volumes for Ford Credit's North America segment, which accounted for about 97% of its total investment in operating leases at September 30, 2008 (in thousands, except for percentages):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Placements
    68       127       287       376  
Terminations
    97       98       301       297  
Returns
    84       78       257       235  
                                 
Memo:
                               
Return rates
    86 %     80 %     85 %     79 %

The decline in placement volumes in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year ago primarily reflected lower industry volumes, lower Ford market share, and changes in our marketing programs which emphasized retail installment sale contracts.  The higher return volumes and rates are consistent with a decrease in auction values relative to Ford Credit's expectations at the time of contract purchase and a shift in consumer preferences from full-size trucks and traditional SUVs.

The recent reduction in auction values for used full-size trucks and traditional SUVs, together with the present credit market conditions, have made leasing vehicles less economical than in the past.  As a result, Ford Credit has reduced lease originations while still offering leasing to consumers.

 
43

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

U.S. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Brand Retail Operating Lease Experience.  The following table shows return volumes for Ford Credit's Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand U.S. operating lease portfolio.  Also included are auction values at constant third quarter 2008 vehicle mix for lease terms comprising about 70% of Ford Credit's active Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand U.S. operating lease portfolio (in thousands, except for percentages):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Returns
                       
24-Month term
    18       18       71       65  
36-Month term
    15       16       43       46  
39-Month term/Other term
    6       9       16       28  
Total returns
    39       43       130       139  
                                 
Memo:  Return rates
    88 %     83 %     87 %     83 %
                                 
Auction Values at Constant Third Quarter 2008 Vehicle Mix
                               
24-Month term
  $ 14,715     $ 16,995     $ 15,085     $ 17,075  
36-Month term
    13,005       14,855       13,175       15,115  

In the third quarter of 2008, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand U.S. return volumes were down 4,000 units compared with the same period a year ago.  However, the return rate increased to 88%, consistent with a decrease in auction values compared to Ford Credit's expectations of lease-end values at the time of contract purchase, and reflecting a shift in consumer preferences from full-size trucks and traditional SUVs.  Auction values at constant third quarter 2008 mix for vehicles under 24-month and 36-month leases were down $2,280 per unit and $1,850 per unit, respectively, from year-ago levels, primarily reflecting the overall auction value deterioration in the used vehicle market.  Auction values at constant third quarter 2008 mix improved compared with the second quarter of 2008 for vehicles under 24-month and 36-month leases by $240 per unit and $190 per unit, respectively.

In the first nine months of 2008, trends and causal factors compared with the same period a year ago were consistent with those described above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Automotive Sector

Our strategy is to ensure that we have sufficient funding available with a high degree of certainty throughout the business cycle.  Our long-term goal is to improve our core Automotive operations so that we have a high degree of certainty about our capability to generate cash from our operations.  In addition, our strategy includes maintaining large gross cash balances, having a long-dated debt maturity profile, and maintaining committed credit facilities.

Gross Cash.  Automotive gross cash includes cash and cash equivalents, net marketable securities, and loaned securities.  Prior to 2008, we included in Automotive gross cash assets contained in a VEBA trust that were used to pay certain types of company-paid benefits for U.S. employees and retirees, which were invested in shorter-duration fixed income investments and could be used within 18 months to pay for benefits ("short-term VEBA assets").

Consistent with our Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, our 2008 gross cash calculations do not include VEBA assets or TAA securities.  Gross cash is detailed below as of the dates shown (in billions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
June 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
   
September 30, 2007
   
June 30, 2007
   
December 31, 2006
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10.6     $ 16.9     $ 20.7     $ 18.9     $ 17.1     $ 16.0  
Marketable securities
    11.5       5.1       2.0       7.2       13.7       11.3  
Loaned securities
          7.4       10.3       7.8       4.6       5.3  
Total cash, marketable securities and loaned securities
    22.1       29.4       33.0       33.9       35.4       32.6  
Securities-in-transit *
    (0.7 )     (0.1 )     (0.3 )     (0.4 )     (0.3 )     (0.5 )
UAW-Ford TAA
    (2.5 )     (2.7 )                        
Short-term VEBA assets
                1.9       2.1       2.3       1.8  
Gross cash
  $ 18.9     $ 26.6     $ 34.6     $ 35.6     $ 37.4     $ 33.9  
________
 
*
The purchase or sale of marketable securities for which the cash settlement was not made by period-end and for which there was a payable or receivable recorded on the balance sheet at period-end.

 
44

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

In managing our business, we classify changes in Automotive gross cash into two categories:  operating-related and other (which includes the impact of certain special items, contributions to funded pension plans, the net effect of the change in the TAA and VEBA on gross cash, tax-related transactions, acquisitions and divestitures, capital transactions with the Financial Services sector, dividends paid to shareholders, and other – primarily financing-related).  Our key metrics are operating-related cash flow, which best represents the ability of our Automotive operations to generate cash, and Automotive gross cash.  We believe the cash flow analysis reflected in the table below is useful to investors because it includes in operating-related cash flow elements that we consider to be related to our operating activities (e.g., capital spending) and excludes cash flow elements that we do not consider to be related to the ability of our operations to generate cash (e.g., tax refunds).  This differs from a cash flow statement presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and differs from Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.

Changes in Automotive gross cash for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 and 2007 are summarized below (in billions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Gross cash at end of period
  $ 18.9     $ 35.6     $ 18.9     $ 35.6  
Gross cash at beginning of period
    26.6       37.4       34.6       33.9  
Total change in gross cash (a)
  $ (7.7 )   $ (1.8 )   $ (15.7 )   $ 1.7  
                                 
Operating-related cash flows
                               
Automotive income/(loss) before income taxes (excl. special items)
  $ (2.9 )   $ (0.4 )   $ (2.9 )   $ (0.2 )
Capital expenditures
    (1.8 )     (1.6 )     (4.7 )     (4.2 )
Depreciation and special tools amortization
    1.3       1.6       4.3       5.1  
Changes in receivables, inventories, and trade payables
    (1.4 )     (0.6 )     (2.9 )      
Other (b)
    (2.2 )     (0.3 )     (3.8 )     1.0  
Subtotal
    (7.0 )     (1.3 )     (10.0 )     1.7  
Up-front subvention payments to Ford Credit
    (0.7 )           (2.3 )      
Total operating-related cash flows
    (7.7 )     (1.3 )     (12.3 )     1.7  
                                 
Other changes in gross cash
                               
Personnel separation payments
    (0.2 )     (0.4 )     (0.5 )     (2.1 )
Contributions to funded pension plans
    (0.1 )     (0.2 )     (0.9 )     (1.4 )
Net effect of TAA/VEBA on gross cash
    (0.1 )     0.3       (4.6 )     1.0  
Tax refunds and tax payments from affiliates
          (0.2 )     0.9       1.9  
Acquisitions and divestitures
    0.2       0.1       2.0       1.1  
Other (c)
    0.2       (0.1 )     (0.3 )     (0.5 )
Total change in gross cash
  $ (7.7 )   $ (1.8 )   $ (15.7 )   $ 1.7  
__________
(a)
Total change in Automotive gross cash attributable to Jaguar Land Rover operations was $300 million net cash outflow for the first nine months of 2008.  Except for up-front subvention payments to Ford Credit, Jaguar Land Rover cash outflows are excluded from each line item of this table and included in Other within "Other changes in gross cash."
(b)
In the third quarter of 2008, Other within "Operating-related cash flows" were primarily driven by timing differences between the expensing of marketing, warranty and other accrued liabilities and the payment of those expenses.
(c)
In the third quarter of 2008, Other primarily reflects issuance of Common Stock.

 
45

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Shown in the table below is a reconciliation between financial statement Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations and operating-related cash flows (calculated as shown in the table above) for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 and 2007 (in billions):

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2008 (a)
   
2007
   
2008 (a)
   
2007
 
Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations (b)
  $ (5.6 )   $ 3.2     $ (7.2 )   $ 5.9  
Items included in operating-related cash flows
                               
Capital expenditures
    (1.8 )     (1.6 )     (4.7 )     (4.2 )
Net transactions between Automotive and Financial Services  sectors (c)
    (0.1 )     (0.3 )     (1.4 )     (0.8 )
Net cash flows from non-designated derivatives
    0.3       0.2       1.1       0.7  
Items not included in operating-related cash flows
                               
Cash impact of personnel-reduction programs and changes in Job Security Benefits reserve
    0.2       0.4       0.5       2.1  
Net (sales)/purchases of trading securities
    (0.5 )     (3.4 )     (0.8 )     (1.9 )
Contributions to funded pension plans
    0.1       0.2       0.9       1.4  
VEBA cash flows (reimbursements for benefits paid)
          (0.5 )           (0.8 )
Tax refunds, tax payments, and tax receipts from affiliates
          0.2       (0.9 )     (1.9 )
Other (b)
    (0.3 )     0.3       0.2       1.2  
Operating-related cash flows
  $ (7.7 )   $ (1.3 )   $ (12.3 )   $ 1.7  
__________
(a)
Except as noted (see note (b) below), 2008 data exclude Jaguar Land Rover, reflecting the operations' held-for-sale status.
(b)
Includes Jaguar Land Rover.
(c)
Primarily payables and receivables between the Automotive and Financial Services sectors in the normal course of business.  For example, vehicle wholesale loans that are made by Ford Credit to Ford-owned dealers.

Debt and Net Cash.  At September 30, 2008, our Automotive sector had total debt of $26.1 billion, compared with $27 billion at December 31, 2007.  At September 30, 2008, our Automotive sector had negative net cash (defined as gross cash less total debt) of about $7.2 billion, compared with positive net cash of $7.6 billion at the end of 2007.  The $14.8 billion reduction in net cash reflects a $15.7 billion reduction in gross cash, offset partially by about $900 million in lower debt.

To enhance Automotive liquidity, from August 14, 2008 through October 31, 2008, we have issued in market transactions 88.3 million shares of Ford Common Stock for an aggregate price of $434 million, and have used the proceeds therefrom to purchase $493 million principal amount of outstanding Ford Credit debt securities maturing prior to 2012 for an aggregate price of $434 million.  Pending their maturity, the Ford Credit debt securities are reflected in Automotive gross cash and, as and when the debt securities mature, their par value will be paid in cash by Ford Credit.  At September 30, 2008, $305 million of marketable securities included in Automotive gross cash represented Ford Credit debt securities that had been purchased through that date.  The market value of these debt securities at September 30, 2008 was $274 million.

Pursuant to the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, on April 9, 2008 we issued to a wholly-owned subsidiary $3.3 billion principal amount of our 5.75% Senior Convertible Note Due 2013 (the "Convertible Note") and $3 billion principal amount of our 9.50% Guaranteed Secured Note Due January 1, 2018 (the "Second Lien Note").  Upon the required transfer of the Convertible Note and Second Lien Note to a new external VEBA established pursuant to the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement, which is expected to occur at December 31, 2009, our Automotive sector debt will increase, and our net cash will decrease, by about $6.3 billion as a result of the Convertible Note and Second Lien Note becoming outstanding at that time for financial reporting purposes.  The amount of the Automotive sector debt increase will be dependent on market yields for similar debt.  The Convertible Note, or a portion thereof, could become outstanding prior to December 31, 2009, if we and the UAW decide to monetize all or a portion of it prior to its transfer to the new external VEBA.

Credit Facilities.*  At September 30, 2008, we had $12.3 billion of contractually-committed credit facilities with financial institutions, including $11.5 billion pursuant to a senior secured credit facility (the "Credit Agreement") established in December 2006 and about $800 million of Automotive unsecured credit facilities.  As discussed above in "Overview," however, we assume that the $890 million commitment of Lehman CPI under our $11.5 billion revolving credit facility is not presently and will not in the future be available as a result of Lehman CPI having filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on October 5, 2008.  Excluding Lehman CPI's commitment from our committed credit facility levels, we had $11.4 billion in total committed credit facilities at September 30, 2008, of which $10.7 billion were available for use.  Of these facilities available for use, 98% (or $10.5 billion) are committed through December 15, 2011, and the remainder are committed for a shorter period of time.  For further discussion of our committed credit facilities, see Note 16 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report.
 
_______________________________
 
* Credit facilities of our VIEs are excluded as we do not control their use.

 
46

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Financial Services Sector

Ford Credit

Debt.  At September 30, 2008, unsecured long-term debt (including notes payable within one year) was $54.3 billion, down about $8 billion from year-end 2007, primarily reflecting about $11 billion of debt maturities.  These maturities were offset partially by public and private unsecured debt issuances of about $3 billion.  Asset-backed long-term debt (including notes payable within one year) at September 30, 2008 was $52.3 billion, up about $3 billion from year-end 2007, reflecting asset-backed long-term debt issuances in excess of amortization of asset-backed debt.  Securitized off-balance sheet funding was about $900 million at September 30, 2008, down about $4 billion from year-end 2007, reflecting the amortization of previous securitizations.  Since June 30, 2008, Ford Credit has experienced a steady reduction in the balance of Ford Interest Advantage (“FIA”), its unsecured demand notes program.  At September 30, 2008, the FIA balance was $3.7 billion, and at October 31, 2008, the balance was $2.5 billion.

Funding Strategy.  As a result of lower credit ratings over the past few years, Ford Credit's unsecured funding costs have increased over time.  While it has continued to access the unsecured debt market when it makes sense to do so, Ford Credit has increased its use of securitization funding as it has been more cost effective than unsecured funding and has allowed Ford Credit access to a broad investor base.  Ford Credit plans to meet a significant portion of its 2008 funding requirements through securitizations, and to continue to diversify its asset-backed funding by asset class and region.  Ford Credit’s securitization transactions continue to perform within expectations.  No transactions have been downgraded, and year-to-date, rating agencies have affirmed certain ratings of Ford Credit’s rated U.S. lease and wholesale securitizations, and have upgraded some of its rated U.S. retail securitizations.  In addition, Ford Credit has various alternative business arrangements for select products and markets that reduce its funding requirements while allowing it to support us (e.g., Ford Credit's partnering in Brazil for retail financing and FCE's partnering with various institutions in Europe for full-service leasing, retail, and wholesale financing).  Ford Credit is continuing to explore and execute such alternative business arrangements.

Consistent with the overall market, Ford Credit has been impacted by volatility and disruptions in the asset-backed securities markets since August 2007.  Ford Credit now faces the challenges of the global credit crisis, including higher credit spreads and associated funding costs, higher renewal costs on its committed liquidity programs, higher enhancements resulting in reduced net proceeds from securitizations and, in certain circumstances, shorter maturities in its public and private securitization issuances.  Given present market conditions, Ford Credit does not expect a significant near-term reduction in its credit spreads or the cost of renewing its committed liquidity programs.  About 11% of Ford Credit's committed capacity is up for renewal in the fourth quarter of 2008.  Given the nature of many of Ford Credit's asset-backed committed facilities, it has the ability to obtain term funding up to the time that the facilities mature.  Any outstanding debt at the maturity of the facilities remains outstanding through the term of the underlying assets.  Ford Credit’s ability to obtain funding under its committed asset-backed liquidity programs is subject to having a sufficient amount of assets eligible for these programs, as well as its ability to obtain derivatives to manage its interest rate risk.

Ford Credit's funding plan is subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control.  If auction values for used vehicles weaken further or there is continued disruption in the market capacity for the types of asset-backed securities used in Ford Credit's asset-backed funding, there will be increased risk to Ford Credit's funding plan.  As a result, Ford Credit may need to further reduce the amount of finance receivables and operating leases it purchases or originates; this reduction could reduce Ford Credit's ongoing profits and adversely affect its ability to support the sale of Ford vehicles.

Term Funding Plan.  The following table shows Ford Credit's completed public and private term funding issuances in 2007 and through October 31, 2008, and its planned issuances for full-year 2008 (in billions):

   
2008
       
   
Full-Year Forecast
   
Through Oct. 31
   
2007 Actual
 
Public Transactions
                 
Unsecured
  $ 2     $ 2     $ 6  
Securitizations (a)
    10 – 13       10       6  
Total public transactions
  $ 12 – 15     $ 12     $ 12  
                         
Private Transactions (b)
  $ 23 – 26     $ 23     $ 28  
__________
(a)
Reflects new issuance; excludes whole-loan sales and other structured financings.
(b)
Includes private term debt, securitizations, whole-loan sales, and other structured financings; excludes sales to Ford Credit's on-balance sheet asset-backed commercial paper programs.

 
47

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Through October 31, 2008, Ford Credit completed about $12 billion of public term funding transactions, including: about $2 billion of unsecured long-term debt in the United States and Europe; about $9 billion of retail asset-backed securitizations in the United States; and the remainder consisting of a retail asset-backed securitization in Germany.  Ford Credit expects its full-year 2008 public term funding to be between $12 billion and $15 billion.

Through October 31, 2008, Ford Credit completed about $23 billion of private term funding transactions (excluding its on-balance sheet asset-backed commercial paper program) in several markets.  These private transactions included retail, wholesale, and lease asset-backed securitizations, and unsecured term debt.

Through October 31, 2008, Ford Credit completed about $35 billion of public and private term funding, which is about 90% of its full-year plan.

Liquidity.  The following table illustrates the various sources of Ford Credit's liquidity as of the dates shown (in billions):

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities*
  $ 19.1     $ 16.7  
                 
Committed liquidity programs
    32.6       36.8  
Asset-backed commercial paper ("FCAR")
    16.4       16.9  
Credit facilities
    2.4       3.0  
Committed capacity
    51.4       56.7  
Committed capacity and cash
    70.5       73.4  
Less: Capacity in excess of eligible receivables
    (5.5 )     (4.7 )
Less: Cash to support on-balance sheet securitizations
    (4.7 )     (4.7 )
Liquidity
    60.3       64.0  
Less: Utilization
    (35.5 )     (36.1 )
Liquidity available for use
  $ 24.8     $ 27.9  
__________
*
Excludes marketable securities related to insurance activities.

At September 30, 2008, the capacity of Ford Credit's liquidity sources (which include committed liquidity programs, its asset-backed commercial paper program, and credit facilities) and its cash totaled $70.5 billion.  Of this amount, Ford Credit could utilize $60.3 billion (after adjusting for capacity in excess of eligible receivables of $5.5 billion and cash required to support on-balance sheet securitizations of $4.7 billion), of which $35.5 billion was utilized as of September 30, 2008, leaving $24.8 billion (including $14.4 billion of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and excluding marketable securities related to insurance activities) available for use.  In addition to the $24.8 billion of liquidity available for use, the $5.5 billion of capacity in excess of eligible receivables provides an alternative to uncommitted sources for funding future purchases or originations and gives Ford Credit flexibility to efficiently shift capacity to markets and asset classes where it can be used.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities.  At September 30, 2008, Ford Credit's cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities (excluding marketable securities related to insurance activities) totaled $19.1 billion (including $4.7 billion to be used only to support on-balance sheet securitizations), compared with $16.7 billion at year-end 2007 (including $4.7 billion to be used only to support on-balance sheet securitizations).  In the normal course of its funding activities, Ford Credit may generate more proceeds than are required for its immediate funding needs.  These excess amounts are maintained primarily as highly liquid investments, which provide liquidity for Ford Credit’s short-term funding needs and give Ford Credit flexibility in the use of its other funding programs.

Committed Liquidity Programs. Ford Credit and its subsidiaries, including FCE, have entered into agreements with a number of bank-sponsored conduits and other financial institutions whereby such parties are contractually committed, at Ford Credit's option, to purchase from Ford Credit eligible retail or wholesale assets or to purchase or make advances under asset-backed securities backed by retail or wholesale assets for proceeds of up to $26.6 billion at September 30, 2008 ($15 billion retail and $11.6 billion wholesale), of which $9.8 billion are commitments to FCE.  These committed liquidity programs have varying maturity dates, with $18.4 billion having maturities within the next twelve months (of which $3.1 billion relates to FCE commitments), and the balance having maturities between December 2009 and September 2011.  As a result of the continued asset-backed securities market volatility that began in August 2007 and significantly worsened in September 2008, there is a risk to the renewal of some of these committed liquidity programs, which could lead to a reduction in the size of these programs and/or higher costs.  Ford Credit's ability to obtain funding under these programs is subject to having a sufficient amount of assets eligible for these programs as well as Ford Credit's ability to obtain derivatives to manage the interest rate risk.  At September 30, 2008, $20.8 billion of these commitments were in use.  These programs are extremely liquid funding sources, as Ford Credit is able to obtain funding from available capacity generally within two days.  These programs are free of material adverse change clauses, restrictive financial covenants (for example, debt-to-equity limitations and minimum net worth requirements), and credit rating triggers that could limit Ford Credit's ability to obtain funding.  However, the unused portion of these commitments may be terminated if the performance of the underlying assets deteriorates beyond specified levels.  Based on Ford Credit's experience and knowledge as servicer of the related assets, Ford Credit does not expect any of these programs to be terminated due to such events.

 
48

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

In addition, Ford Credit has a committed liquidity program for the purchase of up to $6 billion of multiple asset classes including U.S. lease, dealer, floorplan, and assets that are more difficult to securitize, of which $4 billion is committed through 2009.  Ford Credit's ability to obtain funding under this program is subject to having a sufficient amount of assets available to issue the securities, as well as Ford Credit’s ability to obtain derivatives to manage the interest rate risk.  This program also is free of material adverse change clauses, restrictive financial covenants, and credit rating triggers that could limit Ford Credit's ability to obtain funding.  At September 30, 2008, Ford Credit had $3.9 billion of outstanding funding in this program.

Credit Facilities.  At September 30, 2008, Ford Credit and its subsidiaries, including FCE, had $2.4 billion of contractually-committed unsecured credit facilities with financial institutions, of which $1.7 billion were available for use.  Of the lines available for use, 41% ($698 million) are committed through at least June 30, 2010, including 33% ($553 million) which are committed through December 31, 2011.  Of the $2.4 billion, $345 million constitute Ford Credit bank lines (of which $70 million are worldwide) and $2.1 billion are FCE bank lines (of which $2 billion are worldwide).  The Ford Credit worldwide credit facilities may be used, at Ford Credit's option, by any of its direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiaries.  Similarly, the FCE worldwide credit facilities may be used, at FCE's option, by any of FCE's direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiaries.  Ford Credit or FCE, as the case may be, will guarantee any such borrowings.  All of the worldwide credit facilities are free of material adverse change clauses, restrictive financial covenants, and credit rating triggers that could limit Ford Credit's ability to obtain funding.

In addition, at September 30, 2008, Ford Credit is reporting $16.4 billion of contractually-committed liquidity facilities provided by banks to support its FCAR program.  Included in this total is a $238 million contractually-committed liquidity facility provided by Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB ("Lehman Brothers Bank").  As disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 16, 2008, the contractually-committed liquidity facilities provided by Lehman Brothers Bank are guaranteed by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Lehman"), the parent company of Lehman Brothers Bank.  On September 15, 2008, Lehman filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Of the $16.4 billion of reported contractually-committed liquidity facilities at September 30, 2008, 39% ($6.4 billion) of these facilities are committed through June 29, 2012, and the remainder are committed for a shorter period of time.  Utilization of these facilities is subject to conditions specific to the FCAR program and Ford Credit having a sufficient amount of eligible assets for securitization.  The FCAR program must be supported by liquidity facilities equal to at least 100% of its outstanding balance.  At September 30, 2008, $16 billion of FCAR's bank liquidity facilities were available to support FCAR's asset-backed commercial paper, subordinated debt or FCAR's purchase of Ford Credit's asset-backed securities, and the remaining $412 million of FCAR's bank liquidity facilities were available to support FCAR's purchase of Ford Credit's asset-backed securities.  At September 30, 2008, $9.8 billion of FCAR's asset-backed commercial paper was held by external investors and the remaining $1.1 billion was held by Ford Credit.  Further, Ford Credit decided to reduce the assets of the FCAR program by $2.5 billion during the third quarter of 2008, and FCAR used the proceeds to pay off maturing FCAR commercial paper.

Leverage.  Ford Credit uses leverage, or the debt-to-equity ratio, to make various business decisions, including establishing pricing for retail, wholesale, and lease financing, and assessing its capital structure.  Ford Credit refers to its shareholder's interest as equity.  Ford Credit calculates leverage on a financial statement basis and on a managed basis.

The following table illustrates the calculation of Ford Credit’s financial statement leverage (in billions, except for ratios):

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Total debt
  $ 129.1     $ 139.4  
Total equity
    11.7       13.4  
Debt-to-equity ratio (to 1)
    11.0       10.4  

 
49

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

The following table illustrates the calculation of Ford Credit’s managed leverage (in billions, except for ratios):

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Total debt
  $ 129.1     $ 139.4  
Securitized off-balance sheet receivables outstanding
    1.1       6.0  
Retained interest in securitized off-balance sheet receivables
    (0.2 )     (0.7 )
Adjustments for cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities (a)
    (19.1 )     (16.7 )
Adjustments for hedge accounting (b)
    (0.2 )      
Total adjusted debt
  $ 110.7     $ 128.0  
                 
Total equity (including minority interest)
  $ 11.7     $ 13.4  
Adjustments for hedge accounting (b)
    (0.2 )     (0.3 )
Total adjusted equity
  $ 11.5     $ 13.1  
                 
Managed debt-to-equity ratio (to 1)
    9.6       9.8  
__________
(a)
Excludes marketable securities related to insurance activities.
(b)
Primarily related to market valuation adjustments to derivatives due to movements in interest rates.

Ford Credit plans its managed leverage by considering prevailing market conditions and the risk characteristics of its business.  At September 30, 2008, Ford Credit's managed leverage was 9.6 to 1, compared with 9.8 to 1 at December 31, 2007.  Ford Credit did not pay any distributions in the first nine months of 2008.

Total Company

Stockholders' Equity.  Our stockholders' equity was negative $2 billion at September 30, 2008, down $7.6 billion compared with December 31, 2007.  The decrease primarily reflected net losses in the first nine months of 2008, offset partially by favorable changes in Capital in excess of par value of stock resulting from conversion of debt to equity and issuance of new stock.

Credit Ratings.  Our short- and long-term debt is rated by four credit rating agencies designated as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"):

 
DBRS Limited ("DBRS");
 
Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch");
 
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody’s"); and
 
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P").

Ford.  In August 2008, DBRS lowered our senior secured rating to B from B (high).  In October 2008, Fitch lowered our long-term senior unsecured rating to CC from CCC+ and our issuer default rating to CCC from B-.  Also in October 2008, S&P placed our ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications, and Moody's placed our ratings on review for possible downgrade.

Ford Credit.  In October 2008, Fitch lowered Ford Credit's long-term senior unsecured rating to B- from B+, its short-term rating to C from B, and its issuer default rating to CCC from B-.  Also in October 2008, S&P placed Ford Credit's ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications, and Moody's lowered Ford Credit's long-term senior unsecured rating to B2 from B1.  Moody's also placed the rating on review for further possible downgrade.

The following chart summarizes certain of the credit ratings and the outlook presently assigned to Ford and Ford Credit by these four NRSROs:

 
NRSRO DEBT RATINGS
 
Ford
 
Ford Credit
 
Issuer Default/ Corporate/ Issuer Rating
 
Long-Term Senior Unsecured
 
Senior Secured
 
Outlook / Trend
 
Long-Term Senior Unsecured
 
Short-Term Unsecured
 
Outlook / Trend
DBRS
B (low)
 
CCC (high)
 
B
 
Negative
 
B
 
R-4
 
Negative
Fitch
CCC
 
CC
 
B
 
Negative
 
B-
 
C
 
Negative
Moody's
B3
 
Caa1
 
Ba3
 
    Negative**
 
B2
 
NP
 
    Negative**
S&P*
B-
 
CCC
 
B-
 
  Negative**
 
B-
 
NR
 
    Negative**
__________
 
*
S&P assigns FCE a long-term senior unsecured rating of B, maintaining a one notch differential versus Ford Credit.
 
**
Moody's has placed Ford and Ford Credit ratings on review for further possible downgrade; S&P has placed Ford and Ford Credit ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications.

 
50

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the first nine months of 2008, Ford Credit did not enter into any off-balance sheet arrangements (off-balance sheet securitization transactions and whole-loan sale transactions), consistent with its plan to fund securitizations through on-balance sheet transactions.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the total outstanding principal amount of receivables sold by Ford Credit in off-balance sheet securitizations was $1.1 billion and $6 billion, respectively.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, Ford Credit's retained interests in such sold receivables were $154 million and $653 million, respectively.


OUTLOOK

Our current projection of upcoming vehicle production for certain segments is as follows (in thousands):

   
Fourth Quarter
   
Full Year
 
   
Vehicle Unit Production
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
   
Vehicle Unit Production
   
2008 Over/(Under) 2007
 
Ford North America
    430       (211 )     2,225       (604 )
Ford Europe
    400       (89 )     1,898       (42 )
Volvo
    77       (40 )     373       (88 )

Reduced Ford North America planned vehicle production for the fourth quarter of 2008 largely reflects our belief that reduced industry demand will continue in the United States as a result of the continuing deterioration in economic conditions (as discussed in "Overview" above), as well as the segmentation shift in consumer preferences that has taken place (away from full-size pickup trucks and traditional SUVs and toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles).

We have set and communicated the following 2008 planning assumptions and operational metrics, and provide the accompanying results from the first nine months of the year and updated full-year outlook:

Planning Assumptions
Full-Year Plan
 
First Nine Months
 
Full-Year Outlook
Industry Volume (SAAR)
         
–U.S. (million units) (a)
16.0
 
14.4
 
13.7
–Europe (million units) (b)
17.6
 
17.2
 
16.7
           
Operational Metrics
         
Compared with 2007:
         
–Quality
Improve
 
Improved
 
On Track
–Automotive Costs (c)
Improve by about $3 Billion
 
Improved by $3 Billion
 
About $4 Billion
Absolute Amount:
         
–U.S. Market Share (Ford Lincoln Mercury)
Low End of 14%-15% Range
 
14%
 
High 13%
–Operating-Related Cash Flow
Negative
 
$(12.3) Billion   (d)
 
Greater Outflow than Plan
–Capital Spending
About $6 Billion
 
$4.7 Billion
 
On Track
__________
(a)
SAAR includes medium and heavy vehicles.
(b)
For the 19 markets we track in Europe.
(c)
At constant volume, mix and exchange; excluding special items.
(d)  See Liquidity and Capital Resources” above for reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. 

Although we expect the fourth quarter of 2008 to be challenging, we remain confident that execution of the four key priorities of our plan – to aggressively restructure our business to operate profitably, accelerate development of new products our customers want and value, finance our plan and improve our balance sheet, and work together effectively as one team to leverage our global resources – will help us meet our long-term objectives.  For additional discussion of our updated operating assumptions and forward-year plans, see the "Overview" discussion above.

 
51

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

During the first nine months of the year, we realized an additional $2.3 billion toward our goal of reducing by $5 billion cumulatively our annual Automotive operating costs in Ford North America by year-end 2008 as compared with year-end 2005 (at constant volume, mix and exchange, excluding special items).  Our projection for structural cost savings, set forth below, reflects $350 million of reduced OPEB expense resulting from the favorable court ruling and accounting treatment for our Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement as of August 29, 2008.  The following data summarize our progress to date, and provide additional detail regarding our plan to reduce Ford North America operating costs by about $3.4 billion in total during 2008:

   
Operating Cost Reductions (in billions)
 
               
2008
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
First Quarter
   
Second Quarter
   
Third Quarter
   
Projected Full-Year
 
Net Product Costs
                                   
Product Adds
  $ (0.9 )   $ (2.0 )   $ (0.1 )   $ (0.1 )   $ (0.2 )   $ (0.7 )
Commodities
    (0.3 )     (0.8 )     0.1       (0.2 )     (0.7 )     (1.1 )
Material Cost Reductions/Other
    1.2       0.8       0.3       0.3       0.2       1.2  
Subtotal
    -       (2.0 )     0.3       -       (0.7 )     (0.6 )
Structural/Other
    1.5       2.6       0.9       0.6       1.2       4.0  
Total
  $ 1.5     $ 0.6     $ 1.2     $ 0.6     $ 0.5     $ 3.4  
                                                 
Memo:  Cumulative savings
  $ 1.5     $ 2.1     $ 3.3     $ 3.9     $ 4.4     $ 5.5  
                                                 
Memo:  Cumulative, excluding depreciation and amortization impact of 2008 impairment
  $ 1.5     $ 2.1     $ 3.3     $ 3.9     $ 4.2     $ 5.0  
 
Despite all of the cost reduction actions that have been implemented and those that are planned, we expect total Company operating and overall results for full-year 2008 to be worse than full-year 2007.  We expect our year-over-year profit decline in the fourth quarter of 2008, excluding special items, may exceed that for the third quarter of 2008, with a resultant impact on our cash flows.

In October 2008, Volvo announced additional personnel-reduction actions; including actions announced in June 2008, Volvo is reducing by about 6,000 its personnel levels worldwide.  Many of the reductions are expected to take place by year-end 2008, with the remainder to be completed in early 2009.
 
As previously disclosed, we have been working to sell or close the majority of the 15 ACH component manufacturing plants by year-end 2008.  To date, we have sold five plants.  We have closed two plants, and have plans to close an additional two plants during the fourth quarter of 2008.  We plan to close a fifth plant in 2009, and to close a sixth in 2010.  While we remain engaged in discussions with prospective buyers for three of the four remaining ACH plants, we currently expect that we will continue to operate at least portions of these plants (Milan, Saline, Sandusky, and Sheldon Road), but are intent on transitioning these businesses to the supply base as soon as practicable in an orderly and economical manner.

Given the continued volatility in the financial markets and the impact that this turbulence has on our investment portfolio returns, we are not providing guidance for our Other Automotive segment at this time.  See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" above for further discussion of the impact on our debt and net cash of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement.

Within our Financial Services sector, we anticipate that Ford Credit will incur a pre-tax loss for full-year 2008.  Ford Credit's anticipated year-over-year decline in earnings primarily reflects the impact of the second quarter 2008 impairment charge to Ford Credit's North America segment operating lease portfolio, and Ford Credit's projection of a higher provision for credit losses, higher depreciation expense for leased vehicles, lower volume, and higher net losses related to market valuation adjustments to derivatives.  Ford Credit expects these unfavorable factors to be offset partially by the non-recurrence of costs associated with its North American business transformation initiative, reductions in other operating costs, and higher financing margin.  Ford Credit anticipates a pre-tax loss for the second half of 2008 that is smaller than its first-half 2008 pre-tax loss (excluding its lease impairment charge).
 
Ford Credit previously planned to pay regular distributions to Ford in 2008, but, given the present credit market conditions and to maintain greater flexibility in the execution of its funding plan, we have elected that Ford Credit not reinstate these distributions in 2008.  Ford Credit anticipates its year-end 2008 managed leverage to be about the same as September 2008, which is lower than the 11.5 to 1 managed leverage planned at the beginning of 2008.
 
Beginning in 2009, Ford Credit expects to make cash distributions of about $3 billion through 2010 to return capital as its receivables portfolio declines.  Ford Credit will balance returns of capital with the successful execution of its funding plan, thereby allowing it to continue to support the sale of Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo vehicles.  In addition, Ford Credit will make cash payments to Ford in 2009 and 2010 for settlement of U.S. federal and state income tax liabilities pursuant to our tax sharing agreement.
 
 
52

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Risk Factors

Statements included or incorporated by reference herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, without limitation:

Continued decline in market share;
Continued or increased price competition resulting from industry overcapacity, currency fluctuations or other factors;
A further increase in or acceleration of the market shift away from sales of trucks, SUVs, or other more profitable vehicles, particularly in the United States;
Further significant decline in industry sales, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events, or other factors;
Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
Further increases in the price for, or reduced availability of, fuel;
Currency or commodity price fluctuations;
Adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of, change in ownership or control of, or alliances entered into by a major competitor;
Economic distress of suppliers of the type that has in the past and may in the future require us to provide financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components or materials;
Labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of supplies;
Single-source supply of components or materials;
Substantial pension and postretirement health care and life insurance liabilities impairing our liquidity or financial condition;
Inability to implement the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement to fund and discharge UAW hourly retiree health care obligations;
Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates, investment returns, and health care cost trends);
The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns, or increased warranty costs;
Increased safety, emissions, fuel economy, or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions;
Unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising out of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
A change in our requirements for parts or materials where we have entered into long-term supply arrangements that commit us to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts or materials, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller ("take-or-pay" contracts);
Adverse effects on our results from a decrease in or cessation of government incentives;
Adverse effects on our operations resulting from certain geo-political or other events;
Substantial negative Automotive operating-related cash flows for the near- to medium-term affecting our ability to meet our obligations, invest in our business, or refinance our debt;
Substantial levels of Automotive indebtedness adversely affecting our financial condition or preventing us from fulfilling our debt obligations (which may grow because we are able to incur substantially more debt, including additional secured debt);
Failure of financial institutions to fulfill commitments under committed credit facilities;
Inability of Ford Credit to obtain an industrial bank charter or otherwise obtain competitive funding;
Inability of Ford Credit to access debt, securitization, or derivative markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to additional credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption, or otherwise;
A prolonged disruption of the debt and securitization markets;
Higher-than-expected credit losses;
Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles;
Changes in interest rates;
Collection and servicing problems related to finance receivables and net investment in operating leases;
Lower-than-anticipated residual values or higher-than-expected return volumes for leased vehicles;
New or increased credit, consumer or data protection or other regulations resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions; and
Inability to implement our plans to further reduce structural costs and increase liquidity.

We cannot be certain that any expectation, forecast or assumption made by management in preparing forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projection will be realized.  It is to be expected that there may be differences between projected and actual results.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  For additional discussion of these risks, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2007 Form 10-K Report, and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" below.

 
53

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Based on events occurring subsequent to December 31, 2007, we are updating certain of the Critical Accounting Estimates disclosed in our 2007 Form 10-K Report.

Other Postretirement Employee Benefits

Remeasurement Assumptions.  We remeasured the UAW hourly retiree health care plan as of August 29, 2008 as a result of the Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement reached with the UAW (see Note 12 for further discussion).  The remeasurement reduced our obligation by $4.7 billion.  The weighted average discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation for U.S. plans at September 30, 2008 was 4.52%, compared with 6.45% at December 31, 2007.  The weighted average initial health care cost trend rate was 1% for the 2008 calendar year, compared with the 2007 trend rate of 3%.

Sensitivity Analysis.  Due to the change in our UAW hourly retiree health care plan, the sensitivities related to other postretirement benefit plans have changed materially from those in our 2007 Form 10-K Report.  Accordingly, the table below provides an update to key sensitivities.

These sensitivities may be asymmetric and are specific to the time periods noted.  They are not additive, so the impact of changing multiple factors simultaneously cannot be calculated by combining the individual sensitivities shown.  The effect of the indicated increase/(decrease) in selected assumptions is shown below (in millions):

         
Effect on U.S. and Canadian Plans: Increase/(Decrease)
 
Assumption
 
Percentage Point Change
   
September 30, 2008 Obligation
   
Annual Expense
 
Discount rate
 
+/- 1.0
 pt.   $ (720)/$850     $ (30)/$40  
Health care cost trend rates — total expense
    +/- 1.0       350/(280 )     50/(40 )
Health care cost trend rates — service and interest expense
    +/- 1.0       350/(280 )     30/(20 )


Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Nature of Estimates Required – Long-Lived Assets.  Long-lived asset groups are tested for recoverability when changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.  Events that trigger a test for recoverability include material adverse changes in projected revenues and expenses, significant underperformance relative to historical and projected future operating results, and significant negative industry or economic trends.  When a triggering event occurs, a test for recoverability is performed, comparing projected undiscounted future cash flows to the carrying value of the asset group.  If the test for recoverability identifies a possible impairment, the asset group's fair value is measured relying primarily on a discounted cash flow methodology.  An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its estimated fair value.  A test for recoverability also is performed when management has committed to a plan to sell or otherwise dispose of an asset group and the plan is expected to be completed within a year.  When an impairment loss is recognized for assets to be held and used, the adjusted carrying amount of those assets is depreciated over its remaining useful life.  Restoration of a previously-recognized long-lived asset impairment loss is not allowed.

Automotive Sector – Ford North America Fixed Assets

Assumptions and Approach Used.  We measure the fair value of an asset group based on market prices (i.e., the amount for which the asset could be sold to a third party), when available.  When market prices are not available, we estimate the fair value of the asset group using the income approach and/or the market approach.  The income approach uses cash flow projections.  Inherent in our development of cash flow projections are assumptions and estimates derived from a review of our operating results, approved business plans, expected growth rates, and cost of capital, similar to those a market participant would use to assess fair value.  We also make certain assumptions about future economic conditions and other data.  Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates may change in future periods.

 
54

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Changes in assumptions or estimates can materially affect the fair value measurement of an asset group, and therefore can affect the amount of the impairment.  The following are key assumptions we use in making cash flow projections:

 
·
Business Projections – We make assumptions about the demand for our products in the marketplace.  These assumptions drive our planning assumptions for volume, mix, and pricing.  We also make assumptions about our cost levels (e.g., capacity utilization, cost performance, etc.).  These projections are derived using our internal business plans that are updated at least annually and reviewed by our Board of Directors.

 
·
Long-Term Growth Rate – A growth rate is used to calculate the terminal value of the business, and is added to the present value of the debt-free interim cash flows.  The growth rate is the expected rate at which a business unit's earnings stream is projected to grow beyond the planning period.

 
·
Discount Rate – When measuring a possible impairment, future cash flows are discounted at a rate that is consistent with a weighted-average cost of capital that we anticipate a potential market participant would use.  Weighted-average cost of capital is an estimate of the overall risk-adjusted after-tax rate of return required by equity and debt holders of a business enterprise, which is developed with the assistance of external financial advisors.

 
·
Economic Projections – Assumptions regarding general economic conditions are included in and affect our assumptions regarding industry sales and pricing estimates for our vehicles.  These macro-economic assumptions include, but are not limited to, industry volumes, inflation, interest rates, prices of raw materials (i.e., commodities), and foreign currency exchange rates.

The market approach is another method for measuring the fair value of an asset group.  This approach relies on the market value (i.e., market capitalization) of companies that are engaged in the same or similar line of business.

See Note 2 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report and Note 3 of the Notes to the Financial Statements for more information regarding impairment of long-lived assets.

Sensitivity Analysis.  Due to rapidly-changing U.S. market conditions in the second quarter of 2008 (discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to the Financial Statements), we tested the long-lived assets of our Ford North America segment.  The resulting impairment reflected changes in the assumptions used to measure the fair value of the asset group based on these rapidly-changing market conditions (including changes to our business projections).  The most notable changes in our business and economic projections included:  (1) a more pronounced and accelerated shift in consumer preferences away from full-size trucks and traditional SUVs to smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles as a result of higher fuel prices, with a return over time to a level between today's mix and recent levels; (2) lowered U.S. industry demand in the near term, with a return to trend levels as the U.S. economy recovers subsequent to 2010; and (3) higher commodity costs over the business plan period compared with prior projections.  For additional discussion of the planning assumptions used, see the Outlook discussion in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Quarter Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008.

Our testing during the second quarter of 2008 resulted in a pre-tax impairment charge of $5.3 billion.  The impairment was driven almost entirely by deterioration in projected cash flows for our near-term business plan period, attributable to changes in our business and economic projections as discussed above.  Following this impairment, Ford North America had $11 billion of net property recorded in our financial statements as of June 30, 2008.

Beyond the business and economic projections discussed above, we also updated our assumptions with regard to long-term growth and discount rates.  The long-term growth rate assumption used in our second quarter 2008 testing is similar to that used in our 2006 North America impairment testing, when we last had an impairment of North America fixed assets.  This growth rate, however, when applied to lowered business plan period projections, resulted in a less favorable undiscounted long-term outlook.  This outlook is consistent with our present projection of lower margins, resulting primarily from the recent shift in consumer preferences discussed above.  We estimate that a 0.5 percentage point decrease in the long-term growth rate assumed in our second quarter impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $800 million.

The discount rate that we used in our second quarter impairment testing was consistent with a weighted-average cost of capital that we estimate a potential market participant would use.  This discount rate was lower than that used in our 2006 impairment testing, primarily reflecting the change in long-term outlook discussed above.  A 0.5 percentage point increase in the discount rate assumption used in the impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $1.4 billion.

 
55

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

During the third quarter of 2008, we experienced a severe deterioration in U.S. credit markets, which adversely affected economic conditions and depressed automotive sales.  As a result of this significant adverse change in the U.S. business climate, we again tested the long-lived assets of our Ford North America segment.  Using updated business and economic projections, we assessed that the carrying value of our long-lived assets at September 30, 2008 did not exceed their fair value.  We used the same long-term growth rate as used in our second quarter testing as we believe that long-term economic conditions have not deteriorated as a result of the present credit crisis.  We estimate that a 0.5 percentage point decrease in the long-term growth rate assumed in our third quarter impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $800 million.  Additionally, we used the same discount rate as used in our second quarter testing.  This is based on the assumption that the present credit crisis does not have a material impact on the weighted cost of capital in the medium- to long-term (consistent with our planning horizon).  A 0.5 percentage point increase in the discount rate assumption used in the impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $1.3 billion.

Although at this time we do not anticipate additional impairment charges, a further deterioration of the business climate would impact the assumptions we use in performing future impairment tests and could result in additional impairments.  Over time, as we expand our product line-up in the United States to include additional small, more fuel-efficient vehicles, our product portfolio will more closely match the overall market.  Additionally, we continue to take steps to more closely align our production capacity with industry volume and market share.  As our plan progresses, we will be less exposed to rapid changes in vehicle mix and demand, and less susceptible to future impairment of long-lived assets.  For further discussion of actions we are taking to respond to changing market conditions, see "Overview" above.

Automotive Sector – Volvo Goodwill and Long-lived Assets

At September 30, 2008, $1.3 billion of goodwill remained on our balance sheet related to Volvo.  We will be performing our annual goodwill testing in the fourth quarter of 2008.  In Note 2 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report, we discussed our impairment of Volvo goodwill and noted that a worsening of the business climate would impact the assumptions we use in performing our future impairment tests and could result in additional impairment of goodwill or long-lived assets.  In our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 2008, we disclosed that deteriorating economic conditions and other factors were causing Volvo's second-half 2008 financial results to decline below our previous expectations.  If the present business climate continues without indication of a medium-term improvement, revised business projection and growth rate assumptions could result in additional impairments.

Financial Services Sector – Ford Credit North America Investment in Operating Leases

Assumptions and Approach Used.  As noted above, we measure the fair value of an asset group based on market prices (i.e., the amount for which the asset could be sold to a third party), when available.  When market prices are not available, we estimate the fair value of the asset group using the income approach.  The income approach uses discounted cash flow projections.  Ford Credit measures the fair value of its North America operating lease portfolio using the projected cash flow based on the terms of the operating lease contracts.  Inherent in the cash flow assumptions are estimates derived from its quarterly operating lease portfolio adequacy study for accumulated depreciation.  Many of the factors used in measuring fair value are outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates may change in future periods.

Changes in assumptions or estimates can materially affect the fair value measurement of an asset group, and therefore can affect the amount of the impairment.  The following are key assumptions we use in making cash flow projections for Ford Credit's operating leases:

 
·
Auction Values – Ford Credit's projection of the market value of the vehicles when Ford Credit sells them at the end of the lease.

 
·
Return Volume – Ford Credit's projection of the number of vehicles that will be returned at lease end.

 
·
Discount Rate – Ford Credit's estimation of the discount rate, reflecting hypothetical market assumptions regarding borrowing rates, credit loss patterns, and residual value risk.

See Note 2 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report and Note 3 of the Notes to the Financial Statements for more information regarding impairment of long-lived assets.


 
56

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

Sensitivity Analysis.  Higher fuel prices and the weak economic climate in the United States and Canada during the second quarter of 2008 caused a more pronounced and accelerated shift in consumer preferences away from full-size trucks and traditional SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.  This shift in consumer preferences, combined with the weak economic climate, caused a significant reduction in auction values for used full-size trucks and traditional SUVs (as discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to the Financial Statements).  Recognizing these rapidly-changing market conditions, Ford Credit tested its U.S. and Canadian investments in operating leases for recoverability.  As a result of this testing, we concluded the operating lease portfolio was impaired and recorded a pre-tax charge of $2.1 billion in our and Ford Credit's second quarter 2008 financial statements.  This charge represents the amount by which the carrying value of certain vehicle lines in Ford Credit's lease portfolio, primarily full-size trucks and traditional SUVs, exceeded their fair value.  See Residual Risk discussion above for additional information regarding the significant decrease in auction values.

Following this impairment, Ford Credit's total investment in operating leases was $26.6 billion as of June 30, 2008.  Ford Credit estimates that a one percentage point decrease in the auction value of the impaired vehicles assumed in the impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $50 million.  A one percentage point increase in the return rate of the impaired vehicles assumed in the impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $30 million.  A one percentage point increase in the discount rate assumed in the impairment testing would have decreased the fair value estimate by about $100 million.

Ford Credit assesses the adequacy of its accumulated depreciation quarterly, and prospectively increases depreciation rates if auction values decline further or return volumes increase (see "Critical Accounting Estimate – Accumulated Depreciation on Vehicles Subject to Operating Leases" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our 2007 Form 10-K Report).  Auction values and return volumes for the third quarter of 2008 did not change meaningfully compared with the preceding quarter.  As a result, Ford Credit has not increased its depreciation rates for these factors.  For additional discussion, see "Residual Risk" above.

Although at this time we do not anticipate additional impairment charges, a significant worsening of the business climate could trigger future impairment testing and would impact the assumptions we use therein, which could result in additional impairments.

Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets

Nature of Estimates Required.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences that exist between the financial statement carrying value of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards on a taxing jurisdiction basis.  We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which we expect the temporary differences to be recovered or paid.

SFAS No. 109 requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by recording a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not (defined by SFAS No. 109 as a likelihood of more than 50%) such assets will not be realized.  The valuation of deferred tax assets requires judgment in assessing the likely future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns and future profitability.  Our accounting for deferred tax consequences represents our best estimate of those future events.  Changes in our current estimates, due to unanticipated events or otherwise, could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Assumptions and Approach Used.  In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets.  If, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized, we record a valuation allowance.  The weight given to the positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence may be objectively verified.  As such, it is generally difficult for positive evidence regarding projected future taxable income exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences to outweigh objective negative evidence of recent financial reporting losses.  SFAS No. 109 states that a cumulative loss in recent years is a significant piece of negative evidence that is difficult to overcome in determining that a valuation allowance is not needed against deferred tax assets.

This assessment, which is completed on a taxing jurisdiction basis, takes into account a number of types of evidence, including the following:

 
·
Nature, frequency, and severity of current and cumulative financial reporting losses – A pattern of objectively measured recent financial reporting losses is heavily weighted as a source of negative evidence.  In certain circumstances, historical information may not be as relevant due to changed circumstances;

 
57

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 
·
Sources of future taxable income – Future reversals of existing temporary differences are heavily-weighted sources of objectively verifiable positive evidence.  Projections of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences are a source of positive evidence only when the projections are combined with a history of recent profits and can be reasonably estimated.  Otherwise, these projections are considered inherently subjective and generally will not be sufficient to overcome negative evidence that includes relevant cumulative losses in recent years, particularly if the projected future taxable income is dependent on an anticipated turnaround to profitability that has not yet been achieved.  In such cases, we generally give these projections of future taxable income no weight for the purposes of our valuation allowance assessment pursuant to SFAS No. 109; and

 
·
Tax planning strategies – If necessary and available, tax planning strategies would be implemented to accelerate taxable amounts to utilize expiring carryforwards.  These strategies would be a source of additional positive evidence and, depending on their nature, could be heavily weighted.

See Note 19 of the Notes to the Financial Statements in our 2007 Form 10-K Report for more information regarding deferred tax assets.

Sensitivity Analysis.  In 2006, our net deferred tax position in the United States changed from a net deferred tax liability position to a net deferred tax asset position.  In our assessment of the need for a valuation allowance, and as required by SFAS No. 109, we heavily weighted the negative evidence of cumulative financial reporting losses in recent periods and the positive evidence of future reversals of existing temporary differences.  Although a sizable portion of our North American losses in recent years were the result of charges incurred for restructuring actions, impairments, and other special items, even without these charges we still would have incurred significant operating losses.  Accordingly, we considered our pattern of recent losses to be relevant to our analysis.  Considering this pattern of recent relevant losses and the uncertainties associated with projected future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences, we gave no weight to projections showing future U.S. taxable income for purposes of assessing the need for a valuation allowance.  As a result of our assessment, we concluded that the net deferred tax assets of our U.S. entities required a full valuation allowance.  We also recorded a full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets of certain foreign entities, such as Germany, Canada, and Spain, as the realization of these foreign deferred tax assets are reliant upon U.S.-source taxable income.

At December 31, 2006, we reported a $7.2 billion valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets (including $2.7 billion resulting from the adoption of SFAS No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) ("SFAS No. 158")).  During 2007, we recorded an additional valuation allowance of $1.4 billion (including about $700 million resulting from the adoption of FIN 48).  Taxable losses in the first nine months of 2008, primarily in the United States, increased the valuation allowance by $4.7 billion to a balance of $13.3 billion at September 30, 2008.

A return to profitability in our North America operations would result in a reversal of a portion of the valuation allowance relating to realized deferred tax assets, but we may not change our judgment of the need for a full valuation allowance on our remaining deferred tax assets.  A sustained period of North America profitability could cause a change in our judgment about the realizability of the remaining deferred tax assets.  In that case, it is likely that we would reverse some or all of the remaining deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  However, as discussed above, since we have heavily weighted objectively measured recent financial reporting losses and given no weight to subjectively determined projections of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences, we have concluded as of September 30, 2008 that it is more likely than not such deferred tax assets will not be realized (in whole or in part), and accordingly, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets.

At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, our net deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowances of $13.3 billion and $8.6 billion respectively, were $518 million and $466 million, respectively.  These net deferred tax assets related to operations outside North America where we believed it was more likely than not that these net deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable earnings.  Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been established on our remaining net deferred tax assets.  Most notably, at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we continued to recognize a net deferred tax asset of $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, in our U.K. Automotive operations, primarily based upon the tax return consolidation of our Automotive operations with our U.K. FCE operation.  Our U.K. FCE operation has a long history of profitability and we believe it will provide a source of future taxable income that can be reasonably estimated.  If, in the future, we are not able to consolidate FCE profits in the United Kingdom, additional valuation allowances may be required.  We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future.

 
58

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED BUT NOT YET ADOPTED

In May 2008, the FASB issued FSP APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments that may be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement).  FSP APB 14-1 applies to convertible debt securities that, upon conversion, may be settled by the issuer fully or partially in cash.  FSP APB 14-1 specifies that issuers of such instruments should separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods.  FSP APB 14-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years after December 15, 2008, and must be applied on a retrospective basis.  We are adopting the FSP as of January 1, 2009 and we expect a $1.9 billion increase to beginning equity as a result of this adoption.  We will also record a pre-tax adjustment of approximately $240 million to 2008 retained earnings that represents the debt discount accretion in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

We have not yet adopted SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.  See "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008 for further discussion.

We have not yet adopted SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations or SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51.  See "Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2007 Form 10-K Report for further discussion.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The interim financial information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 has not been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PricewaterhouseCoopers").  In reviewing such information, PricewaterhouseCoopers has applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for reviews of interim financial information.  Readers should restrict their reliance on PricewaterhouseCoopers' reports on such information accordingly.  PricewaterhouseCoopers is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their reports on the interim financial information, because such reports do not constitute "reports" or "parts" of the registration statements prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.


ITEM 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Automotive Sector

Foreign Currency Risk.  The net fair value of foreign exchange forward and option contracts at September 30, 2008 was an asset of approximately $254 million compared to a net fair value asset of $632 million at December 31, 2007.  The potential decrease in fair value of foreign exchange forward and option contracts, assuming a 10% adverse change in the underlying foreign currency exchange rates would be about $500 million at September 30, 2008 and was $2 billion as of December 31, 2007.

Commodity Price Risk.  The net asset fair value of commodity forward and option contracts at September 30, 2008 was $44 million, compared to a net fair value asset of $353 million at December 31, 2007.  The potential decrease in fair value of commodity forward and option contracts, assuming a 10% adverse change in the underlying commodity prices, would be approximately $89 million at September 30, 2008, compared with $100 million at December 31, 2007.

Financial Services Sector

Interest Rate Risk.  To provide a quantitative measure of the sensitivity of Ford Credit's pre-tax cash flow to changes in interest rates, Ford Credit uses interest rate scenarios that assume a hypothetical, instantaneous increase or decrease in interest rates of 100 basis points (or 1%) across all maturities, as well as a base case that assumes that interest rates remain constant at existing levels.  These interest rate scenarios are purely hypothetical and do not represent Ford Credit's view of future interest rate movements.  The differences in pre-tax cash flow between these scenarios and the base case over a twelve-month period represent an estimate of the sensitivity of Ford Credit's pre-tax cash flow.  Under this model, Ford Credit estimates that at September 30, 2008, all else constant, such an increase in interest rates would reduce Ford Credit's pre-tax cash flow by approximately $30 million over the next twelve months, compared with $16 million at December 31, 2007.  The sensitivity analysis presented above assumes a one-percentage point interest rate change to the yield curve that is both instantaneous and parallel.  In reality, interest rate changes are rarely instantaneous or parallel and rates could move more or less than the one percentage point assumed in our analysis.  As a result, the actual impact to pre-tax cash flow could be higher or lower than the results detailed above.
 
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ITEM 4.  Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  Alan Mulally, our Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), and Lewis Booth, our Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), have performed an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as of September 30, 2008, and each has concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the CEO and CFO to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the third quarter of 2008, Ford Europe began sourcing some manufacturing to Fiat S.p.A., which resulted in modifications to various business processes and systems.  Also during the third quarter, Volvo launched a new vehicle invoicing and accounting system.

Don Leclair, Executive Vice President and CFO, retired effective November 1, 2008.  He is succeeded by Lewis Booth, formerly Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company and Chairman, Ford Europe and Volvo.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Legal Proceedings.

Class Actions

Blue Oval Certified Program Class Action (previously reported on p.31 of our 2007 Form 10-K Report).  In September 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the order certifying a nationwide class of dealers and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.

Environmental Matters

Sterling Axle Plant.  The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality ("MDEQ") issued four Letters of Violation to the Sterling Axle Plant between April 17, 2008 and October 7, 2008, and has commenced a civil administrative enforcement proceeding against the Company.  The Letters of Violation arise from the plant's disclosure of several potential violations of its air permits.  We are working with the MDEQ to resolve the enforcement proceeding, and the plant has taken steps to correct and prevent recurrence of the potential violations.
 
        Tax Matters
 
        Government Transfer Pricing Dispute.  As discussed in the last paragraph of Note 7 of the Notes to the Financial Statements above, the U.S. government and the government of one of its major trading partners are expected to have discussions in coming months to resolve issues involving transfer pricing between Ford entities in each jurisdiction.  While these discussions are pending, we could receive audit adjustments from the foreign government that we would have to pay, either in cash or with other collateral acceptable to the government.  Any cash payments, which could be substantial, would defease any tax liability ultimately determined.   
 
ITEM 1A.  Risk Factors.

In addition to the risk factors applicable to us that are disclosed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of our 2007 Form 10-K Report, we have identified the following material changes to the reported risks:

Further significant declines in industry vehicle sales, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events, or other factors.  In "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2007 Form 10-K Report, we identified that a significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the United States or Europe, would pose a risk to our financial condition and results of operations.  At the time of filing our 2007 Form 10-K Report, we had projected that for 2008 U.S. industry demand would soften to about 16 million units, compared with actual volume of 16.5 million units in 2007, and industry demand in the 19 European markets we track would be about 17.6 million units, compared with actual volume of 18 million units in 2007.  As discussed above, under the captions "Overview" and "Outlook" in "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," we now expect industry demand in the United States and Europe for 2008 to be significantly below those levels.  In addition, compared with 2008, we expect industry volume declines in 2009 many markets around the world.  Because we have a high proportion of costs that are fixed, relatively small changes in wholesale unit volumes can dramatically affect our cash flow and profitability.  If industry vehicle sales were to decline significantly from currently-projected levels, particularly in the United States and Europe, our financial condition and results of operations would be substantially adversely affected.

Failure of financial institutions to fulfill commitments under committed credit facilities.  As discussed in "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources" above, we assume that the $890 million commitment of Lehman CPI under our $11.5 billion revolving credit facility is not presently and will not in the future be available as a result of Lehman CPI having filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on October 5, 2008.  As discussed above, at September 30, 2008 (excluding Lehman CPI's commitment), we had $10.7 billion of Automotive and $15.9 billion of Financial Services committed credit and liquidity facilities available for use for which we pay commitment fees.  To the extent that the financial institutions that provide these committed credit facilities were to default on their obligation to fund the commitments, these facilities would not be available to us.

 
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Item 1A. Risk Factors (Continued)

Inability of Ford Credit to obtain an industrial bank charter or otherwise obtain competitive funding.  Ford Credit is pursuing an industrial bank charter from the State of Utah.  Such a charter requires approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) to obtain federal deposit insurance.  Other automotive captive finance companies have industrial banks that provide them with access to relatively low-cost FDIC-insured deposit funding.  If these finance companies have access to FDIC-insured or other government funding programs and Ford Credit does not, then Ford Credit's ability to competitively support the sale of Ford vehicles could be adversely affected.  This in turn would adversely affect the marketability of Ford vehicles in comparison to certain competitive brands.

Inability of Ford Credit to access debt, securitization, or derivative markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to additional credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption, or otherwise.  The lower credit ratings assigned to Ford Credit have increased its unsecured borrowing costs and have caused its access to the unsecured debt markets to be more restricted.  In response, Ford Credit has increased its use of securitization and other sources of liquidity.  Ford Credit’s ability to obtain funding under its committed asset-backed liquidity programs is subject to having a sufficient amount of assets eligible for these programs as well as Ford Credit’s ability to obtain derivatives to manage the interest rate risk.  Over time, and particularly in the event of any further credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption, or otherwise, Ford Credit may need to reduce the amount of receivables it purchases or originates.  In addition, Ford Credit would need to reduce the amount of receivables it purchases or originates if there is a significant decline in the demand for the types of securities it offers or Ford Credit is unable to obtain derivatives to manage the interest rate risk associated with its securitizations.  A significant reduction in the amount of receivables Ford Credit purchases or originates would significantly reduce its ongoing profits and could adversely affect its ability to support the sale of Ford vehicles.

A prolonged disruption of the debt and securitization markets.  As a result of the global credit crisis, the disruption in the debt and securitization markets that began in August 2007 increased significantly in September 2008 and is continuing.  It is possible that this disruption could continue beyond the conclusion of government-sponsored programs that are intended to improve conditions in the credit markets (e.g., the Commercial Paper Funding Facility, Ford Credit's participation in which is described in "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview" above).  Such a sustained disruption in the debt and securitization markets would result in Ford Credit further reducing the amount of receivables it purchases or originates.  A significant reduction in the amount of receivables Ford Credit purchases or originates would significantly reduce its ongoing profits, and could adversely affect its ability to support the sale of Ford vehicles.

Inability to implement our plans to further reduce structural costs and increase liquidity.  As discussed in "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview" above, we are taking a number of additional actions in executing the four priorities of our plan in order to address the impact of current economic conditions, including the deteriorating credit market and automotive sales.  To the extent that we are unable to implement these additional actions or implement other alternative actions our financial condition and results of operations would be substantially adversely affected.

ITEM 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

During the third quarter of 2008, we purchased shares of Ford Common Stock as follows:

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased*
   
Average Price Paid per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly- Announced Plans or Programs
   
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
July 1, 2008 through July 31, 2008
    5,191     $ 4.88       0       **  
Aug. 1, 2008 through Aug. 31, 2008
    1,498       5.11       0       **  
Sept. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2008
    5,927       5.20       0       **  
Total/Average
    12,616       5.06       0       **  
________
*
We presently have no publicly-announced repurchase program in place.  Shares were acquired from our employees or directors in accordance with our various compensation plans as a result of share withholdings to pay income taxes with respect to:  (i) the lapse of restrictions on restricted stock, (ii) the issuance of unrestricted stock, including issuances as a result of the conversion of restricted stock equivalents, or (iii) to pay the exercise price and related income taxes with respect to certain exercises of stock options.  There were no share purchases from the Ford Motor Savings and Stock Investment Plan for Salaried Employees ("SSIP") or the Tax Efficient Savings Plan for Hourly Employees ("TESPHE").  Purchase of shares when participants in those plans elect to sell units in the Ford Stock Fund ceased as of February 9, 2007.
**
No publicly announced repurchase program in place.

 
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ITEM 5.  Other Information.

Governmental Standards

Motor Vehicle Fuel Economy.  California had filed petitions in both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking review of the denial by the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") of a Clean Air Act waiver for California's AB 1493 regulations.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed the petition for lack of jurisdiction, and the case is now proceeding in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  The court has set a briefing schedule pursuant to which briefing on the petition will be concluded by March 2009; no date for oral argument has been set.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California has issued a final judgment in the suit by automobile manufacturers and dealers seeking to overturn the AB 1493 regulations on the grounds they are preempted by federal law.  The final judgment reiterates the court's prior rulings that:  i) California is enjoined from enforcing AB 1493 regulations in the absence of an EPA waiver; and ii) the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy law does not preempt California from regulating motor vehicle greenhouse gases.  Plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on the second ruling.


Ford Credit Support Agreement

On November 6, 2008, Ford and Ford Credit entered into an Amended and Restated Support Agreement ("Support Agreement") (formerly known as the Amended and Restated Profit Maintenance Agreement).  Pursuant to the Support Agreement, if Ford Credit's managed leverage for a calendar quarter were to be higher than 11.5 to 1 (as reported in its then-most recent Form 10-Q Report or Form 10-K Report), Ford Credit can require us to make or cause to be made a capital contribution to Ford Credit in an amount sufficient to have caused such managed leverage to be 11.5 to 1.  A copy of the Support Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10 hereto.

 
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ITEM 6.  Exhibits.

Please see exhibit index below.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
 
       
 
(Registrant)
 
       
       
Date:   November 7, 2008
By:
/s/ Peter J. Daniel
 
   
Peter J. Daniel
 
   
Senior Vice President
 
   
and Controller
 

 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

Designation
 
Description
 
Method of Filing
         
 
Amended and Restated Support Agreement (formerly known as Amended and Restated Profit Maintenance Agreement) dated November 6, 2008 between Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Credit Company LLC
 
Filed with this Report
         
 
Ford Motor Company and Subsidiaries Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
 
Filed with this Report
         
 
Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated November 7, 2008 relating to Financial Information
 
Filed with this Report
         
 
Rule 15d-14(a) Certification of CEO
 
Filed with this Report
         
 
Rule 15d-14(a) Certification of CFO
 
Filed with this Report
         
 
Section 1350 Certification of CEO
 
Furnished with this Report
         
 
Section 1350 Certification of CFO
 
Furnished with this Report
 
 
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