NEW YORK and DETROIT, Mich., Aug. 1, 2005 – The Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that Ford and Lincoln Mercury will begin offering SIRIUS as a factory-installed option this month on select vehicle lines.
Beginning with the 2006 model year, SIRIUS will be offered factory-installed on the following vehicle lines:
- Ford F150 (August 2005)
- Lincoln Mark LT (September 2005)
- Ford Explorer (December 2005)
- Mercury Mountaineer (December 2005)
Ford and Lincoln Mercury plan to offer the factory-installed SIRIUS system for an MSRP of $195, which will include a six-month subscription to the SIRIUS service.
"We are very excited about the start of Ford’s factory program for SIRIUS," said Doug Wilsterman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SIRIUS’ OEM Division. "It will now be even easier for Ford customers to hear the unique programming that SIRIUS offers, and to see first-hand how this will enhance their driving experience."
"Satellite radio is the fastest growing consumer electronics product today," said Steve Lyons, Group Vice President, For Marketing, Sales and Service. "With SIRIUS radio, we are providing another way for our customers to personalize their vehicles and driving experience to their tastes. We look forward to growing the relationship and offering SIRIUS in more product lines in the near future."
SIRIUS radios will arrive at the dealership pre-activated, allowing the dealer to conduct an in-vehicle demonstration of the SIRIUS service, and enabling the customer to immediately access SIRIUS at the time of delivery.
Earlier this year, Ford and Lincoln Mercury announced plans to target up to 21 vehicle lines for factory installation of SIRIUS over the 2006 and 2007 model years. Ford also announced that they expect to generate up to one million SIRIUS subscribers over those two model year periods. Nearly ninety percent of Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles will have SIRIUS as a factory-installed option for the 2008 model year.
