Photo: Audi

In 1998, Audi reported consolidated pre-tax profits of DM 1.684 billion (increase of 51.4 percent compared with 1997). The DVFA result per share, which is adjusted to eliminate one-off factors, was DM 206.93 (1997: DM 154.01). Shareholders will receive a compensatory payment of DM 15 per share with a par value of DM 50 (1997: DM 12); this payment is equivalent to the dividend payable on ten individual VW share certificates. Sales revenues last year totalled DM 27.222 billion (increase of 21.5 percent). Audi vehicle sales worldwide totalled 599,509 (increase of 9.7 percent). Capital investments rose to DM 3.168 billion (increase of 61.1 percent).

According to estimates for the first half of 1999*), pre-tax profits will be approximately on a par with the previous year (first half of 1998: DM 804 million). Audi anticipates that vehicle sales worldwide will rise by around 5.3 percent to approximately 319,000 units. Sales revenues for the first six months of the year will reach around DM 14.3 billion (increase of 6.8 percent). Capital investments will rise by 1.6 percent to around DM 1.1 billion.

DEARBORN, Mich., June 17, 1999 – Ford Motor Company plants are rated #1 in productivity in 10 of 12 vehicle segments evaluated in the 1999 Harbour Report released today. The company has the most productive truck plant and more plants than any other manufacturer in Harbour's top 10 rankings. Ford also has the best overall assembly plant productivity of the domestic manufacturers.

One Millionth Eddie Bauer Explorer ever made at the Ford Assembly Plant in St. Louis

Photo: Ford

The Harbour Report is the most widely-recognized and quoted analysis of manufacturing productivity in the North American automotive industry. This report measures Hours Per Vehicle and Workers Per Vehicle. Of the two, Harbour says that Hours Per Vehicle – with overtime included – is a more accurate measure of labor productivity. In its eighth edition, Harbour ranks four Ford car assembly plants and six Ford truck assembly plants in its top 10 in terms of actual Hours Per Vehicle. The car plants are: Atlanta Assembly (#2), Chicago Assembly (#3), St. Thomas Assembly (#8) and Kansas City Assembly (#10).

Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant bumped Nissan's Smyrna (Tenn.) plant in Hours Per Vehicle to take the #1 spot in Harbour's truck plant rankings. Other Ford truck plants among the top 10 are: Twin Cities (#4), Edison (#5), St. Louis (#6), Kansas City (#7) and Norfolk (#8).

Measured by Hours Per Vehicle, the following plants earned top ratings in their vehicle segments:

- Compact Car – Kansas City Assembly, which builds Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, is number one. Midsized Car -- Atlanta Assembly and Chicago Assembly are number one and two respectively. Both plants build the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Large Car – St. Thomas Assembly in Ontario is number one. It builds the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis.
- Luxury Car – Wixom (Mich.) Assembly, home of Lincoln automobiles, is number one.
- Sports Car – Dearborn Assembly, home of the Ford Mustang, is number one.
- Midsize Sport Utility – Louisville Assembly, which builds Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer and Ford Ranger pickups, is number one. St. Louis Assembly, which produces Ford Explorer, rates number two.
- Full Size Sport Utility – Michigan Truck is the top rated plant. It builds Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
- Full Size Pickup – Kansas City Assembly is rated first, Norfolk Assembly is second, Ontario Truck in Oakville is fourth, and Kentucky Truck in Louisville is fifth. All these plants build Ford F-Series pickup trucks, America's best-selling vehicle.
- Minivan and Large Van – Oakville (Ontario)Assembly, which builds Ford Windstar, is the number one minivan plant. Lorain (Ohio) Assembly, which produces Ford Econoline vans, is the number one full size van plant.

In engine production, Ford's Romeo Engine, maker of 4.6 liter single and double-overhead cam "modular" engines, is number one in the 8-cylinder engine category. Ford had four of the top 10 engine plants in terms of Hours per Engine ( more than any other manufacturer): Dearborn Engine (4-cylinder) rates #3, Romeo Engine (8-cylinder) is #4, Lima (Ohio) Engine is #6 (6- and 4-cylinder engines), and Essex (Ontario) Engine is #7 (6-cylinder).

"This step will reinforce Volvo’s presence in the vitally important Iberian construction equipment market, where we have a clear and strong commitment to grow for the future" says Tryggve Sthen, President and CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment.

Volvo Maquinaria de Construccion Espana SA has 68 employees, with a turnover during 1998 of 88 million US Dollars. The company, under its new ownership, will continue to be led by its current President, Mr. José Dominguez. Employees will continue to support the Volvo Construction Equipment business in Spain based in the new purpose built Sales and Support.