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| Programs to Leave |
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The AP reported that Ford Motor Co.'s high-profile head of hybrid programs is leaving the auto maker, at a time when Ford is relying heavily on its gas-electric hybrid-vehicle program to help turn around its struggling automotive operations.
Mary Ann Wright, Ford's director of hybrid programs and chief engineer on the Ford Escape Hybrid, put in her resignation Friday morning. She is one of many senior managers to recently exit Ford, which in the midst of a corporate restructuring that is to be detailed early next year.
Wright, who had been with Ford since 1988 in high-level engineering roles, was a key face on Ford's hybrid and fuel-efficiency initiatives, going out to California recently to present the California Air Resource Board with a Ford Focus fuel-cell vehicle.
Wright, who held business and engineering degrees from the University of Michigan, also helped host the auto maker's recent hybrid clinics with consumers, where she trumpeted Ford commitment to hybrids and improved vehicle fuel efficiency.
Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Ford recently announced that the auto maker would increase its hybrid-vehicle production tenfold in five years, aiming to build 250,000 hybrid vehicles a year by 2010.
Wright will stay on for at least two weeks. She will be replaced by Nancy Gioia, who previously oversaw engineering of small vehicles for Ford, including the Mustang. Gioia has been with Ford since 1982. Prior to this position, Gioia had held various jobs at Ford, including chief engineer on the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, director of engineering for Ford's passenger cars in North America and a director of current model vehicle quality in North America.
Ford spokesman Oscar Suris said Wright's departure "doesn't change Ford's plans" to increase hybrid production.
Wright's departure comes two weeks after Phil Martens, Ford's vice president of product creation in North America, also left the company. Following Martens out the door was Matt DeMars, Ford vice president for North American vehicle operations.
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Source : http://www.theautochannel.com
(10/28/2005)
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Stories of Saturday, October 29, 2005 |
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| Murano buyers offered DVD package |
| Uncertain future for Fiat UK |
| Ford Motor says to invest $75 million in India |
| Audi boxes clever |
| Daytona beckons, thanks to STP |
| Ford Focus ST |
| Mitsubishi Agrees to Supply Smart Engines |
| Vauxhall details new performance VXRs |
| Hyundai Puts Minivan Back On Track |
| Ex-Rover staff get Nanjing invite |
| Castrol has developed a new branded dealer programme called 'Service Rewards' which is being launched in the UK. |
| Audi Launches Europe's First Brand-Specific TV Channel |
| Next-Generation Volvo S80 Will Gain V8 Power |
| 4x4 Subaru heads to the UK |
| Struggling Ford Limits Bathroom Breaks at Navigator Plant |
| Mitsubishi Planning New V6 Outlander for U.S. |
| AutoTurkey 2006 conference set for 25-26 January |
| TRW Automotive completes Spanish airbag maker acquisition |
| Ford Delivers Hydrogen Focus Fuel Cell Fleet |
| PSA Peugeot Citron's nine-month sales up 1.3%; inventory cuts planned |
| The USO and GM Racing Bring National Hot Rod Association Drivers to Visit Troops in Germany |
| Dept of Transport: VED evasion cost rises by £18m to £147m |
| Nanjing Automobile in talks with potential Longbridge joint venture partners |
| Revenue Up, Operating Profit Up |
| Jay Leno to Present Restored 1968 Camaro to Fallen Hero's Son |
| Consumers Crucial In Outcome of Oil Change Intervals |
| MADD Kicks Off 2005 Strides for Change 5K Walk October 29 at Milam Park |
| Production October 28, 2005 |
| Kia Motors reports third quarter profit fall |
| Hot Wheels Booth at SEMA Offers Much More Than Die-Cast |
| Mitsubishi To Supply Engines For Smart Car |
| Micron Technology launches new automotive image sensor chip |
| Historic Ski Jump Commercial To Celebrate 25 Years Of Quattro |
| Mercedes-Benz Unveils R-Class Grand Sports Tourer |
| Ford Dagenham employees mark plant anniversary with new Transit diesel |
| Nissan reports 5.5% fall in quarterly operating profit |
| Toyota Builds on the Past, Looks to the Future in 2005 North American Environmental Report |
| Autobytel's Automotive Video for Hot-Off-the-Shelf Video iPods |
| Automotive sector is now third-largest PCB consumer |
| Monaco Coach Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results |
| GM Recalls Nearly 106,000 SUVs |
| BMW revises Z4 engine line-up |
| McRae's Fabia time Down Under |
| GM recalls nearly 106,000 SUVs to fix door latch |
| AvtoVAZ Chief Calls It Quit-ski |
| Hot-Blooded 408-Horsepower Volvo XC70 Roars in to SEMA |
| Daimler unit to appeal against ruling in MAN case |
| BMW 3-Series tops thieves' wish list |
| Ford's head of hybrid program to leave |
| New Buick Crossover Christened "Enclave" |
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