Electricnick, The EV Revolution

Ford Focus BEV

Ford is posting impressive numbers and has confirmed the production of the Ford Focus EV. Much to celebration from the comeback kid.

The gist is in the midst of the chaos shaking Detroit, Ford has maneuvered very well.

Ford posts its first full year of profit in 2009 with its 4th quarter 2009 netting $868 million. The company feels it will profitable in 2010.

The company reported a full year 2009 pre-tax operating profit, excluding special items, of $454 million, a $7.3 billion improvement over a year ago and expects to be profitable in 2010 for North America.

What does this mean particularly for the electric drive?  Two things, mainly that the U.S. has a reliable candidate that will put out a real electric vehicle, EV by 2011, only a few months after Nissan’s Leaf.  It also will spell optimism in the investment world, which can also be a double edge sword if history is anything to learn from.

See the rest of the Press Release below.

Full year net income of $2.7 billion, or 86 cents per share, a $17.5 billion improvement from a year ago. Pre-tax operating profits of $454 million, a $7.3 billion improvement from a year ago
Fourth quarter net income of $868 million, or 25 cents per share, a $6.8 billion improvement from a year ago. Pre-tax operating profits of $1.8 billion, a $5.5 billion improvement from a year ago
Ford North America fourth quarter pre-tax operating profits of $707 million, a $2.6 billion improvement from a year ago++
Reduced Automotive structural costs by $500 million compared with the fourth quarter 2008, bringing the total 2009 reduction to $5.1 billion, exceeding the target of about $4 billion
Strong products drove full year market share gains in North America, South America and Europe as well as continued improvements in transaction prices and margins
Ended the year with $25.5 billion of Automotive gross cash and $34.3 billion in Automotive debt
Achieved positive Automotive operating-related cash flow of $3.1 billion for the fourth quarter. Full year Automotive operating-related cash outflow was $300 million, a $19.2 billion improvement over 2008
Ford Credit fourth quarter pre-tax operating profits of $696 million, a $1.1 billion improvement from a year ago
For full year 2010, Ford plans to be profitable on a pre-tax basis excluding special items, for North America, total Automotive and total company, with positive Automotive operating-related cash flow, based on its assumptions.

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