Even at $4 a gallon, [buying a hybrid] is not a financial decision I'd make because you've got to pay about $4,000 or more upfront [in higher sticker price] for the privilege of driving around in a hybrid.

I think it's going to be another solid car year, for both Ford and the industry.

This is the first year we have the Fusion in our lineup. So the prudent thing for Ford to do is lower Five Hundred production so we don't end up with an excess inventory of that car at year's end and be forced to sell Five Hundreds not bought by retail customers to daily rental fleets at a [large] discount. We'll probably sell fewer Five Hundreds in its second full year on the market than we did in its first full year.

January is easily the slowest selling month of the year. We don't want the inventory situation to get ahead of us.

I suspect you couldn't find three products at any other brand that attract so many young buyers. To go to additional expense of creating an additional brand name isn't necessary if you're already connecting with this group.

It's like the bigger they are, the harder they fall.