Ford of Canada will become the first automaker to bring hybrid vehicle production to Canada when the Oakville Assembly Complex (OAC) adds hybrid versions of the all-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX to its assembly line later this decade.

Canada will officially enter the hybrid age by 2010 – that's when OAC will begin volume production of the near-zero emission, high fuel economy vehicles. In preparation, the 5.4 million ft 2 (486,000 m 2) complex west of Toronto is under going a massive $1 billion conversion to flexible manufacturing allowing it to build multiple models on unique architectures.

Production of the 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) will occur in the fourth quarter of this year with hybrid production scheduled to begin by 2010. Specific product details for the Canadian-made hybrids will be revealed closer to launch. Ford's current hybrid lineup is classified as "full hybrids" with these key technological attributes:

   * Electric drive: moves the vehicle, in certain situations, under electric power alone.
   * Engine stop-start: saves fuel by automatically shutting off the engine when not needed.
   * Engine assist: teams an electric motor with the gasoline engine for higher performance.
   * Regenerative braking: recovers and stores energy that would otherwise be lost as heat.

Ford Motor Company will introduce hybrid versions of the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego, and the Canadian-made Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX – to total nine high-volume models available as full hybrids. Today's Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner ( U.S. only) hybrids – already the world’s cleanest, most fuel-efficient small SUVs – will be joined by a Mazda Tribute Hybrid in 2007 and the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid in 2008. Overall, Ford Motor Company plans to sell 250,000 hybrids a year globally by 2010.

For more information, please visit www.ford.ca.