http://www.energyefficiencynews.com <p>US energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday confirmed that <a rel="external" href="http://www.ford.com/">Ford</a> will receive a $5.9 billion loan to transform its manufacturing facilities to produce fuel efficient cars.</p> <p>The loan, which is part of the <a rel="external" href="http://www.energy.gov">Department of Energy</a> (DOE)&rsquo;s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing programme, will support the development of advanced vehicle technologies at Ford&rsquo;s plants in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio.</p> <p>The funds should enable Ford to raise the fuel efficiency across a dozen of its popular models, which represent nearly 2 million new vehicles each year, as well as developing hybrid and plug-in models.</p> <p>The investment underpins the Administration&rsquo;s recent tightening up of average fuel economy to 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016.</p> <p>&ldquo;We can revitalize the American auto industry and at the same time reduce our dependence on oil and cut our carbon pollution,&rdquo; said Secretary Chu.</p> <p>For further information:<br /> <a rel="external" href="http://www.energy.gov">www.energy.gov</a><br /> <a rel="external" href="http://www.ford.com/">www.ford.com/</a></p> <p>Related stories:<br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2204/" rel="external">US Government loans $8 billion to Ford, Nissan and Tesla for advanced vehicles (25-Jun)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/909/" rel="external">Ford pledges to go small and green (5-Aug 2008)</a></p> http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2411/ 2009-09-18T00:00:00-00:00 US policy, transport, road, fuel efficiency, Ford Motor Company