

Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO, delivered the keynote speech at the Los Angeles International Auto show on Wednesday November 14. Talking about a “blueprint for sustainability,” Mulally outlined Ford’s commitment to improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. The mandate for Ford, Mulally said, is threefold: reduce energy waste in vehicle systems, use better materials to reduce weight and need for fuel, and make these vehicles available on a large scale: “not hundreds or thousands of cars,” Mulally said, but “millions of cars, because that is how Ford can truly make a difference.”
Mulally went on to say that it requires a huge investment to make these changes, requiring reengineering and redesigning Ford’s product line. By 2012, Ford wants to make half of its production capable of running on alternative fuels, provided that the necessary infrastructure can support it. Ford also plans to add to its hybrid lineup with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, set to go into production later in 2008.
Mulally took questions from the audience, including one about plug-ins and hydrogen technology, which Ford started working on in the 1990s. Mulally said he wants to manage expectations, not overpromise. Ford is taking an optimistic, if methodical tack, focusing on large-scale influence when it comes to sustainability.