vbBy 2005, both Ford and GM's corporate bonds had been downgraded to junk status

,[18] as a result of high U.S. health care costs for an aging workforce, soaring
gasoline prices, eroding market share, and an over dependence on declining SUV
sales. Profit margins decreased on large vehicles due to increased "incentives"
(in the form of rebates or low interest financing) to offset declinivbvbvbvng de
mand.[19] In the latter half of 2005, Chairman Bill Ford asked newly appointed F
ord Americas Division President Mark Fields to develop a plan to return the comp
any to profitability. Fields previewed the Plan, named The Way Forward, at the D
ecember 7, 2005, board meeting of the company and it was unveiled to the public
on January 23, 2006. "The Way Forward" included resizing the company to match ma
rket realities, dropping some unprofitable and inefficient models, consolidating
production lines, closing 14 factories and cutting 30,000 jobs.[20]dfgdfgdrgdbd
crthdrgdrgdgdsfseThe Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury vbvbvbHybrid are the gasolin
e-electric hybrid powered versions that launched in the U.S. in 2004 for the 200
5 model year. Built in Kansas City, Missouri, it was the first hybrid SUV to hit
the market. The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first American-built hybrid and the
first hybrid vehicle from an American automaker, joined by the Chevrolet Silvera
do/GMC Sierra Hybrids during the same model year. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, the first generation Ford Escape Hybrid is 70% more efficien
t than the regular Escape. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a rebadged version of t
he Escape Hybrid. It features revised front-end styling and a more luxurious int
erior.