DEARBORN, Mich., February 15, 2000 - Ford Motor Company's F-150 pickup truck has been selected as a top environmental choice by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), in its annual listing of the most environmentally friendly vehicles.

The F-150 pickup is the only full-size truck to make the ACEEE's "Greener Choices" list. Specifically, the 4.2L, 2-wheel-drive model of the truck was selected as a "Greener Choice." The list is part of ACEEE's Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks - Model Year 2000. The Green Book was released today in Washington, DC.

"We're very pleased and proud that the environmental performance of the F-150 pickup truck has been recognized," said Helen Petrauskas, vice president for Environmental and Safety Engineering. "Not only does our F-Series line have great performance, but it is the best-selling vehicle in the United States, so the positive environmental benefit is significant."

The ACEEE is a non-profit organization that promotes energy efficiency as a means of furthering economic prosperity and environmental protection. The organization works closely with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies. Its Green Book ranking takes a holistic view of environmental performance, including emissions generated during the lifecycle of the vehicle. Emissions generated during fuel and vehicle production are estimated and combined with actual emissions from a car or truck. The resultant value allows a comparison of vehicles.

The "Greener Choices" F-150 model, as well as all F-Series pickups, sport utility vehicles and Windstar minivan, meet Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards. These vehicles emit anywhere from about 40 percent to more than 50 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than similar vehicles that do not meet LEV standards.

Ford Motor Company announced last week that it had produced its two millionth LEV truck since making an industry-leading commitment to LEV vehicles less than one and a half years ago. No one else in the industry comes close to Ford's LEV truck volumes.

The company has committed to take environmental actions in advance of government regulatory timetables whenever possible. Ford has made this pledge and is putting these much cleaner vehicles on the roads far in advance of any government requirement to do so. The large majority of SUVs and pickups is not mandated to be low emission prior to the 2004 model year.

"Making all of our pickups and SUVs low emission vehicles is just the right thing to do," said Gurminder Bedi, vice president, North America Truck. "We offer this at no additional cost to the customer as part of our strategy Of 'Cleaner, Safer, Sooner.' Our commitment is to genuine leadership, not mere compliance."

The combined effect from Ford's early-adoption actions so far is equivalent to eliminating the harmful smog-forming emissions from 350,000 full-size pickups on the road today. On an ongoing basis, Ford's action will result in 4,250 tons less of smog-forming pollutants being released annually into the atmosphere. It would take more than 600,000 hybrid electric vehicles placed in service to equal the air quality benefit that Ford's action will have in calendar year 2000.

The F-150 pickup is built at Ford assembly plants in Kansas City, Mo.; Norfolk, Va; and Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

F-Series is the top-selling vehicle - car or truck - for 18 years running and the best-selling pickup in the U.S. for 23 years running in the U.S. With sales of 869,001 units in 1999, F-Series broke its own 21-year-old sales record and outsold its nearest competitor by 233,000 units. The industry-leading lineup recently was expanded with the introduction of the 2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew.

In addition to the F-150 pickup, Ford's electric Ranger compact pickup made the ACEEE's list of "The 12 Greenest Vehicles of 2000."