DEARBORN, MI – Ford Motor Co. received a $55 million incentive from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) for its work in advanced battery and electrical vehicle development.

Ford will receive refundable tax credits through the new Michigan Advanced Battery Credits initiative, announced by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The first of its kind in the country, the law provides refundable tax credits to encourage companies to invest in electric vehicle engineering and advanced automotive battery research in Michigan.

"Ford appreciates Michigan's proactive positioning in support of these advanced technologies, which we believe are at the heart of a new generation of vehicles," said Curt Magleby, Ford's director of government affairs. "Incentives to help concentrate research and engineering related to electric vehicles in Michigan will help position the state to become a leader in this emerging technology."

Approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the incentive will be used to accelerate Ford's plans to produce next-generation hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles.

"These promising technologies give us the opportunity to transform our transportation and energy future," said Nancy Gioia, director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs. "Government support is essential to achieving the potential for electrified vehicles in the future. Michigan's groundbreaking program accelerates our ability to expand and focus our engineering and research efforts here."

Ford's southeast Michigan operations already are home to some of the most advanced automotive research, technology and engineering development facilities in the world. This incentive will help ensure that research and development at Ford facilities in Michigan will play a key role in further enhancing this new technology.

Ford recently announced an aggressive electrification strategy to bring four new vehicles to market. Ford's electrification strategy involves three types of electrified vehicles -- battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles -- to provide consumers with significant fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions without compromising their driving experience.

Ford's new electrification strategy aims to deliver a suite of electrified vehicles to market by 2012, including:

-- A full battery commercial Transit Connect van-type commercial vehicle in 2010.

-- A full battery electric passenger car in 2011.

-- Next-generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version by 2012.

The electrification strategy is designed to take advantage of rapid advancements in electrified vehicle technology -- particularly lithium-ion batteries -- while leveraging the scale of global vehicle platforms to bring the cost of new technology down.