Q: How did Ford finance itself when the market no longer had trust in you during the credit crisis?
A: In the fall of 2006, we completed a $23 billion financing package for the parent company to restructure the business and provide a financing cushion in case the business environment deteriorated. Clearly, the environment deteriorated further and faster than anyone expected, but the $23 billion provided us the sufficient financing to make it to the other side of the crisis. It also allowed us to continue investing in our new products right through the downturn. When vehicle sales began to pickup in 2010, Ford had new products ready to hit dealerships which helped our sales rebound and improve our operating results faster than expected.