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Labor-Environmental Partnership Supports Ford Escape Hybrid
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Labor and environmental leaders joined together today to announce a partnership of auto workers and green advocates to support fuel-efficient vehicles and technologies. The group praised the launch of the Ford Escape Hybrid, calling it key to the future of the domestic auto industry."The launch of Ford's Escape Hybrid is bringing together two groups-autoworkers and environmentalists -- who have not always seen eye-to-eye in the past," says Mike Perry, president of United Auto Workers Local 249. "But this partnership is more important now than ever. The introduction of U.S.-made hybrids and other fuel-efficient technologies are essential to staying competitive, which will help the industry create and preserve good union jobs while also protecting the environment."Members of UAW Local 249 will manufacture the Escape Hybrid at the Ford Kansas City Assembly plant, which employs more than 5,600 UAW members."The Escape Hybrid is a winner for both jobs and the environment," says Charles Griffith, Auto Project Director of the Michigan-based Ecology Center. "There is enormous potential for revitalizing auto manufacturing in the nation's heartland, while at the same time making positive environmental steps to reduce the release of greenhouse gases and to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. Environmental concern and supporting good union jobs can now go hand-in-hand."Introduction of the new Escape Hybrid will make Ford the first domestic U.S. automaker to introduce hybrid-electric technology to the mainstream market, and also the first in the popular small SUV segment. Demand for foreign-made hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic have outstripped supply in the U.S. during the past two years. U.S. registrations for hybrid vehicles jumped 26% last year, to 43,435, according to figures from R.L. Polk & Co. Hybrid sales are expected to nearly double this year, to more than 70,000.The event also kicked off the Green Machines Tour, which is bringing together labor, environmental organizations, and the auto industry to promote hybrids and other fuel-efficient technologies and to convince state and federal governments to increase their support for advanced vehicle technologies. The Green Machines Tour is a project of the Ecology Center. The Escape Hybrid will achieve 30 to 36 miles per gallon, or more than a 50% improvement over the standard Escape, officials say. It will also have extremely low emissions, achieving the California Advanced Technology Partially Zero Emission Vehicle standard.Ford plans to produce approximately 25,000 Escape Hybrids by the end of 2005. "