Ford Develops 'Takeback' Network For 'End Of Life Vehicles' From 2007

Ford Motor Company has signed an agreement with Cartakeback Limited to provide customers of its brands sold in the UK - Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda - with a free "take back" service for End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) from 1 January, 2007.

Ford is the first major manufacturer in the UK to put in place a comprehensive plan that meets the EC End of Life Vehicles directive requiring manufacturers and importers to:

• Take back vehicles that they put on the market at the end of their life ensuring that they are treated in an environmentally responsible manner
• Meet recycling and recovery targets of 85 per cent by weight in 2006

Ford Motor Company and Cartakeback Limited, a subsidiary of the UK Shredders consortium, are working in partnership to develop a network of "take back" and treatmenfacilities throughout the UK. These facilities will be available to the last owner of a qualifying vehicle that has reached the end of its life.

The Ford Cartakeback network will have representation across all regions of the UK with all sites fully compliant with the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs [DEFRA] standards. The first Ford-appointed site in the network is GW & G Bridges Ltd. of Crawley, Sussex. The other sites in the Ford network will be announced, as they are appointed, between now and August.

All the sites will provide a comprehensive and professional service for owners of Ford Motor Company ELVs from 1 January 2007 at the latest. This is the date at which the disposal of all qualifying ELVs - regardless of the date of a vehicle's first registration - become the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Ford of Britain chairman, Roger Putnam, confirming the new contract explained: "When the full network is established, a hotline number and dedicated website will advise last owners of the qualifying conditions for free take back and the location of the nearest facility where they can present their vehicle." As they become available, further details will be announced on the Ford website at www.ford.co.uk under the "Environment" section during 2005.

Currently, last owners of Ford Motor Company qualifying ELVs which were first registered on or after 1 July 2002 can obtain free take back by contacting the Ford Customer Relationship Centre on 0845 8411111 or by e-mailing elvgb@ford.com.

Ford Motor Company's brands sold in excess of 487,000 new cars in the UK in 2004. The company has over eight million vehicles in the UK car parc - approximately 25 per cent of the total.