PRODUCTS F orty all-new, or substantially new, products in  one year. That’s what we introduced in 2004.  It’s not only impressive – it’s a company record. Why so many ?  Because we are and always have  been, first and foremost, an automaker. In the times  when we remembered that, we were strong, and  in the times we strayed from that core business, we  weakened. Products are the key to our strength. We also know that in today’s information- driven world having fresh vehicles with up- to-the-minute technology is important to our  customers. That makes it important to us. The challenges in staying ahead are significant.  Developing a new car or truck requires investment, so  we have carefully realigned our vehicle architectures.  This allows us to produce a greater variety of  attractive and competitive vehicles with more shared  components and less complexity. Yet we are making  headlines with innovations such as hybrid vehicles that  offer all the advantages of their conventional cousins.  Our one family of  products that does not  come on wheels – the  financial-services family  of Ford Motor Credit  Company – offers a  competitive way for  our customers to own  what we build. It’s  the finishing piece to  our core business  – having the products  people want and the  means to put them  in the driver’s seat. Having the best is  essential when your goal is to be the  best. Our products are our future. Ford Motor Credit Insurance Operations Field Service  Manager Janis Burton is assisting Charlotte County  Lincoln Mercury General Manager Jim Gardner (center)  and owner Ed Howard in assessing and recovering from  extensive damage to their entire vehicle inventory caused  when Hurricane Charlie struck Punta Gorda, Fla., and  environs in August 2004. 1 1 R T Y