Disposal

Ford Motor Co
12 September 2005

Contact: News Media:        
         Becky Sanch
         313.594.4410
         [e-mail]

         Equity Investment 
         Community: 
         Raj Modi
         313.323.8221
         [e-mail]

         Fixed Income Investment 
         Community: 
         Rob Moeller
         313.621.0881
         [e-mail]
  
         Shareholder Inquiries:
         800.555.5259 or 
         313.845.8540 
         [e-mail]

FORD TO SELL THE HERTZ CORPORATION TO PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP IN $15 BILLION 
TRANSACTION 
 
• Clayton Dubilier & Rice, The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private
  Equity to acquire market leader in the rental car and equipment rental
  industries. 

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 12, 2005 - Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today
the execution of a definitive agreement with an investor group of leading
private equity firms, under which Ford will sell all of the shares of common
stock of its wholly owned subsidiary, The Hertz Corporation, in a transaction
valued at approximately $15 billion including debt. The acquiring investor group
is composed of Clayton Dubilier & Rice, The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch
Global Private Equity. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Ford will receive $5.6 billion for the equity
of Hertz. 

'This transaction reinforces our commitment to strengthening our balance sheet
and investing in our core automotive business,' said Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer Don Leclair. 'Hertz is a world class company with an
experienced management team. We look forward to working with the new owners and
intend to maintain our strong commercial relationship with Hertz.' 

In connection with the transaction, Hertz plans to commence a cash tender offer
for up to $2.3 billion of certain of its outstanding debt securities; certain 
other Hertz debt will be refinanced. 

The purchase of Hertz is subject to customary conditions, including applicable
regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to be completed by year end. 

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman, Sachs &
Co. acted as financial advisors to Ford, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
acted as the company's legal advisor. 

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Michigan, manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six
continents. With more than 324,000 employees worldwide, the company's core and
affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover,
Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford
Motor Credit Company. 

Hertz operates the largest general use car rental business in the world and one
of the largest industrial, construction and material handling equipment rental
businesses in North America, based on revenues.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING
AN OFFER TO BUY OR EXCHANGE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, NOR IS THIS PRESS
RELEASE AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES OR SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY OR EXCHANGE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER, SOLICITATION OR
SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES LAW OF ANY SUCH STATE OR JURISDICTION.  
 
Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution photographs.



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange