BUENA PARK, Calif., June 13, 2001 - Ford Expedition sales have reached the 1 million mark, and Ford Motor Company is celebrating this milestone by honoring the delivery of the one-millionth vehicle to the local Orange County customer who purchased it.

Ford officials are commemorating this event today at Ken Grody Ford, by presenting Sgt. Jim Banks, of the Buena Park Police Department, with the one-millionth Expedition and honoring both Banks and Grody with personalized plaques. Expedition Marketing Manager, Doug Walczak, and California Regional Marketing Manager, Stu Smith, will be on hand for the event.

"I am pleased that the one-millionth Expedition sold is from this region," said Smith. " It gives us an opportunity to thank a loyal Ford owner and a wonderful dealer. This event is great on both a personal and professional level."

In May, Expedition was named the segment award winner for Best Full-Size SUV in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study is considered the automobile industry benchmark of quality for vehicles during the first three months of ownership. This honor is in addition to Expedition's being the only SUV to earn a double five-star rating in U.S. governmental frontal crash testing performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Southern California is a huge market for Ford SUVs - and Expedition is leading the pack, " said Grody, principal of Ken Grody Ford. "It is an honor that my dealership made such a significant sale and made it to a loyal Ford owner, Sgt. Banks."

Ken Grody Ford has been serving the Buena Park community since 1974 and is Orange County's highest volume Ford dealership. The dealership was awarded Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval certification in February 2001, signifying its commitment to complete customer satisfaction.

Expedition Customers
Reaching this milestone would not have been possible without loyal Expedition customers who have continued demand for the SUV.

Banks, a 13-year veteran of the Buena Park Police Department and a resident of Brea, Calif., is one such customer. Earlier this month, Banks was flown to the Michigan Truck Plant, where the Ford Expedition is built, to join an employee celebration and watch his new vehicle roll off the assembly line. Banks has owned two previous Ford vehicles and has purchased each of them from Ken Grody Ford.

"I recently purchased a boat and needed something more appropriate to haul it around with," said Banks. "Of all the SUVs we looked at, Expedition offered the room and power to fit our needs." He quipped, "I never imagined my purchase would turn out to be so significant."