Ford Motor Company and Sony Electronics today announced they have signed an agreement to offer Sony-branded audio systems across the lineup of Ford and Mercury branded vehicles in North America starting in 2008. The first vehicle to be equipped with Sony-branded audio will be unveiled April 4 at the New York Auto Show.

This is the third collaboration between Sony and Ford in North America. Ford and Sony offered a limited-edition Focus Sedan in 2000, outfitted with Sony Xplod® audio equipment. More recently, Ford offered “Sound Designed by Sony” in the Ford Focus in North America.

Ford signed a long-term agreement with Sony in part because of the strong connection American consumers have with the Sony brand, Kuzak said. Sony continues to rank as the top consumer brand in the United States when consumers were asked to name the brands they consider the best, according to the annual Harris Interactive® consumer brand survey. For the seventh year consecutive year, and the ninth time in the last 11 years, Sony was rated No. 1. The latest survey results were released July 12, 2006.

Offering branded audio with Sony is another example of Ford’s effort to deploy new consumer-driven electronic features in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. In January, Ford and Microsoft announced Ford Sync™, an industry leading, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system for mobile phones and digital music players that will be available later this year, and on vehicles equipped with Sony branded audio systems.

For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.