Ford Motor Company TH!NKS About Urban Mobility

Washington D.C., - Ford Motor Company has taken a major step to jump start the development of affordable small electric vehicles with its purchase of a majority interest in Norway-based TH!NK Nordic AS, manufacturer of the two-seat TH!NK electric city car.

The compact, nimble TH!NK features a corrosion-proof, matte-finish, thermoplastic body that measures under 10 feet in length. The plastic body is integrated with a steel frame that provides overall strength for the car.

"TH!NK represents a new mobility concept and a unique vehicle for city and urban driving," said John Wallace, Ford's director of Environmental Vehicles. "TH!NK is intended to provide a practical, but fun driving experience."

TH!NK has a top speed of 55 miles per hour and a real world driving range of 53 miles between charges. Drivers simply plug TH!NK into a normal 220-volt electrical outlet to recharge its nickel-cadmium batteries, which have an estimated 10-year life. An 80 percent recharge takes 4-6 hours.

One reason Ford was interested in acquiring majority interest in the Norwegian company was to support the development of new concepts in the use of plastic-body components, as well as support TH!NK's approach to low-volume and lean, flexible manufacturing.

With significantly fewer part per vehicle than typical cars, design phases are shorter and manufacturing is simpler. TH!NK has only 370 parts.

More than 50 prototype vehicles have been on the road in Norway for three years. Another test program was held in 1995 when 40 cars were used as part of the Bay Area Station Car Program in San Francisco.

The city smart car will be available for lease in Scandinavia before the end of 1999 and the company has plans to bring TH!NK to select cities in North America in 2000. Its potential in other markets will be explored as well.

When customers begin leasing new TH!NK cars in Norway later this year, they will also be offered a unique service experience. Hertz Norway will serve as the distribution network for the cars, allowing TH!NK to utilize an already existing infrastructure rather than building a new one.

"We want to make sure the lease and service experience with TH!NK matches the driving experience," said Wallace. "Norwegian customers will have one single number to call for purchase, distribution and service. This customer-driven approach is something completely new to the automotive industry."

The TH!NK-Hertz relationship is a pilot in Norway. TH!NK customers will have their car delivered by Hertz right to their home or business. In addition, when the vehicle needs service, Hertz will pick up the car and supply a replacement vehicle for the day.

Production will be done in the TH!NK Nordic plant outside Oslo. Total initial production capacity for TH!NK will be 5,000 vehicles per year.

Ford's purchase of 51 percent of TH!NK Nordic AS was finalized in March 1999. A five-member board of directors for the company is in place. John Wallace serves as Chairman of the Board. Jan Otto Ringdal from TH!NK Nordic has been named Vice Chairman. Per A. Lilleng of TH!NK Nordic will serve as President in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company. Other Ford executives on the board are Frode Maaseidvaag, director of Ford's European research laboratories, and Ingvar Sviggum, vice president of Sales Operations, Ford of Europe.

TH!NK helps strengthen Ford's commitment to electric vehicles. Ford currently sells an electric version of its Ranger pickup truck through a network of dealers in 40 states throughout the US.