Exhibit 20

NEWS

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S JULY U.S. SALES DECLINE 12.8%

DEARBORN,  MI, August 1, 2001 - U.S. customers  purchased or leased 303,043 cars
and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in
July, down 12.8 percent from a year ago.

Also, the company  indicated that it was  maintaining  its  previously-announced
third quarter North American production plan at 930,000 vehicles.

July sales highlights included:

o    Ford  remained  America's  top  selling  brand of cars and trucks with July
     sales of 250,822.  In the first seven months of 2001, over 1.9 million U.S.
     customers have purchased a new car or truck from a Ford dealer.
o    Ford  F-Series  remained  America's  top  selling  truck with July sales of
     64,240 and year-to-date sales of 501,031.
o    Ford Explorer  remained  America's  top selling sport utility  vehicle with
     July sales of 36,028 and year-to-date  sales of 233,295.  It was the second
     best July sales in Explorer's 11-year history. The July record (39,550) was
     set last year.
o    Mercury  Mountaineer  posted July sales of 4,259, up 19 percent from a year
     ago.  It was the  fourth  month  in a row of  higher  sales  for  Mercury's
     redesigned mid-size SUV.
o    Volvo dealers reported near-record July sales of 11,228, up 31



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     percent from a year ago. Volvo's sales increase,  its fourth month in a row
     of higher  sales,  reflected  higher  sales of the S40 compact  sedan,  the
     all-new S60 mid-size  sedan (which  replaced the S70), and the V70 XC sport
     wagon (which was introduced last fall).