• Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant next summer will begin building the industry's first hybrid electric SUV, the Ford Escape Hybrid.
• Escape Hybrid will deliver between 35 and 40 miles per gallon in city driving and an extremely clean level of emissions.

CLAYCOMO, Mo., Oct. 30, 2003 – The all-new 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, the cleanest, most fuel-efficient SUV ever mass produced, will be built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, beginning next summer, Ford Motor Company announced today.

Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid electric vehicle able to run either on its gasoline or its electric motor, or both together, based on driver demand to optimize performance and fuel economy. It will deliver acceleration similar to a V-6 Escape but will be extremely fuel-efficient – between 35 and 40 mpg in stop-and-go city driving. It never will need to be plugged in. Emissions will be extremely clean – Escape Hybrid will be certified to PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) standards.

"Ford Escape Hybrid is a no-compromise solution that helps to deliver on Ford's promise to work toward a better world," said Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation. "It will offer four-wheel-drive and uncompromised cargo capacity and ground clearance, while cleverly packaging a large battery pack. It will be the first go-anywhere HEV."