Ford of Canada ready to retire more vehicles than any other manufacturer

Ford of Canada and Summerhill Impact establish exclusive agreement to help Canadians retire their vehicles

    
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    - For the first time in Canada, consumers can turn in 2003 model year (or
      older) vehicles for retirement and qualify to receive up to $3,000
      towards the purchase of a new 2010 Ford or Lincoln vehicle. Previous
      retirement programs were limited to 1995 model year (or older)
      vehicles.

    - Ford's Exclusive Recycle Your Ride program is in addition to the $300
      available from Retire Your Ride, a program funded by the Government of
      Canada (1995 model year or older vehicles).

    - The Ford program makes it more affordable for consumers to purchase a
      new vehicle with the latest in safety features, fuel economy and smart
      technologies.

    - With Ford's exclusive expanded program, approximately 60 per cent of
      vehicles currently on Canadian roads qualify for retirement.

    - There are environmental benefits of retiring older vehicles, for
      example, if 10,000 vehicles (2003 model year or older) were replaced
      with 10,000 new models featuring today's advanced technologies, Ford of
      Canada could help eliminate approximately 83 tons of smog forming
      emissions per year.
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OAKVILLE, ON, April 30 /CNW Telbec/ - The Ford Recycle Your Ride program has resonated with Canadian consumers. Due to positive consumer feedback, Ford has collaborated with Summerhill Impact to expand the program - now, approximately 60 per cent of the vehicles currently on Canadian roads qualify for retirement within the Ford program.

Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, has announced that starting May 1, consumers turning in 2003 model year (or older) vehicles for retirement will get up to $3,000 towards the purchase of a new 2010 Ford or Lincoln vehicle.

"Through our exclusive agreement with Summerhill Impact, Ford is the only manufacturer that is retiring 1996 to 2003 model year vehicles," said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. "The Ford Exclusive Recycle Your Ride program makes it more affordable for consumers to purchase a new vehicle, which offers the latest in safety features, fuel economy and smart technologies." Pierre Deragon from Deragon Ford Lincoln said that "the Ford Exclusive Recycle Your Ride program not only gives consumers the opportunity to get an older vehicle off the road; it also helps them get behind the wheel of a new, fuel efficient vehicle. As Quebecers in particular are extremely environmentally conscious, I am confident they will continue to embrace this initiative."

According to the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) more than 80 per cent of the entire vehicle by weight is reused, re-manufactured or recycled.

"There are substantiated environmental benefits of retiring older vehicles," says Ersilia Serafini, COO of Summerhill Impact. "For example, a 1995 model year or older vehicle produces 19 times more smog-forming pollutants (Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Oxide) than a 2004 or newer model."

If 10,000 vehicles (2003 model year or older) were replaced with 10,000 new models featuring today's advanced technologies, Ford of Canada could help eliminate approximately 83 tons of smog forming emissions per year. To date, Ford has retired more than 6,000 high polluting vehicles through the Ford Recycle Your Ride program.

Anyone who buys a new 2010 Ford or Lincoln vehicle and who qualifies for the Ford Exclusive Recycle Your Ride program, will receive $1,000 towards the purchase of a new 2010 Ford car or compact truck, $2,000 towards the purchase of a new 2010 Ford full-size sedan, crossover or sport utility vehicle and $3,000 towards the purchase of a new 2010 Ford full-size truck or Lincoln vehicle.

Here is all consumers have to do:

    
    - If you own a 2003 (or older) running vehicle that has been properly
      registered and insured for the last six months, visit your closest Ford
      dealer to confirm your eligibility under Ford's Exclusive Recycle Your
      Ride program for up to $3,000 in incentives
    - Purchase or lease your new 2010 Ford or Lincoln vehicle
    - Retire your vehicle and receive the incentive, over and above current
      incentives
    

For details visit www.ford.ca

    
    Summerhill Impact
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Summerhill Impact (www.summerhillimpact.ca) delivers the Car Heaven program and the Government of Canada's Retire Your Ride program. Retire Your Ride is a national program designed to effectively and efficiently retire 1995 model year or older vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner, in an effort to improve air quality and encourage the use of sustainable transportation. The Retire Your Ride program is delivered nationally by Summerhill Impact, funded by the Government of Canada and supported by a network of experienced regional delivery agents across the country, as well as a national network of automotive recyclers. The Car Heaven program was launched by Summerhill Impact in July 2000 to accelerate the retirement of old, higher-polluting vehicles and to ensure that vehicles are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.

For high resolution pictures please go to www.media.ford.com and video can be downloaded at http://fordvideo.wieck.com/search?q=recycleride.

If you need assistance with photos or video please contact [email protected].

For further information: Elpi Klapas, Direct Impact, [phone] x.236, [email protected]; Julie Lepsetz, Direct Impact, [phone] x.233, [email protected]