In a speech before the Business Roundtable, Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford talked about the energy and manufacturing challenges facing the United States and how industry and government can overcome them by “investing again in American innovation.” He said that other countries have made manufacturing important enough to make it a national priority and called upon the U.S to do the same. “Now, more than ever, with the competitive pressures of globalization, America needs to respond to the economic challenges of our time,” said Ford. “This is not the moment to stop investing and concede our competitive edge in vital parts of the economy. Just the opposite, we must take the lead and show the world that there is only one, true innovative manufacturing giant. And it has three distinct initials: U.S.A.”


The Ford CEO outlined six cooperative measures between industry and government that America can take in the short term that will “bear fruit for years to come.” The six measures include:

• Urging Congress to invest in America and dramatically increase the R&D tax credit to more directly support companies working on advanced vehicles, components, and fuel technologies.

• Challenging Congress to consider tax incentives to help American manufacturers convert existing — but outmoded plants — into high-tech facilities.
• Calling for investment in the American workers who build the advanced technology products with training programs and incentives to upgrade worker skills, helping us move into the future while preserving American jobs.
• Pushing governments at all levels by 2010 to consider buying only hybrids or other alternatively fueled vehicles.
• Expanding the infrastructure for ethanol fuels — so we can go from hundreds of fuel stations to thousands.
• Convening a group of automakers, suppliers, fuel providers and government agencies to address America ’s energy challenges.

“I believe that with the right investments, America – and the American manufacturing sector – can win. It can maintain its leadership stature in the world. And we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. All at the same time. But we can’t get there alone.”

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