President Bush Visits Ford's Kansas City Plant

- President tours Kansas City Assembly Plant's hybrid assembly line to view production of Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid.
- President thanks Kansas City Assembly Plant employees for helping to deliver energy security by building hybrids and E85 vehicles.
- KCAP employees hear President explain how American technology and innovation will lead to energy security.

The President toured the hybrid assembly line and addressed more than 300 employees about the role American technology and innovation will play in delivering energy security to the country.

"Technology changes the way we have lived our lives and technology is going to change the way we drive our cars," said the President. "You're making a new kind of automobile that is literally a part of changing America for the better."

Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company, welcomed President Bush to the plant and thanked him for coming to see first-hand how Ford is delivering advanced technology vehicles to address climate change and energy security.

"Ford stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil," Mulally said. "At Kansas City Assembly, we are doing some exciting things. In addition to producing the nation's first hybrid electric SUV, we are also building the best-selling pickup truck in the world - the Ford F-150 - capable of running on E85 ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two fuels."

"We are also developing a range of advanced technologies that improve fuel efficiency, such as clean diesel, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells and advanced gasoline engines," Mulally adds. "These advanced technologies will help reduce green house gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign petroleum."

Ford recently invested $100 million in its Kansas City plant to produce the new, 2008 model of both the conventional and hybrid Ford Escape. Escape was the world's first hybrid SUV.

In addition to the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid vehicles and E85-capable F-150 pickup, Ford showed the President the Ford Edge with HySeries Driveâ„¢ - the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability.

"It is an extraordinary honor for us to welcome the President into our plant," said Ken Ward, plant manager, Kansas City Assembly. "Our employees had the opportunity to explain the hybrid production process and demonstrate their commitment to building the best hybrid and E85 vehicles in the world."