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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations<br />
2011 Compared with 2010<br />
Total Automotive. The charts below detail full-year key metrics and the change in full-year 2011 pre-tax operating<br />
results compared with full-year 2010 by causal factor. Automotive operating margin is defined as Automotive pre-tax<br />
operating results, excluding special items and Other Automotive, divided by Automotive revenue.<br />
As shown above, full-year wholesale volume and revenue were higher than the year-ago period, but operating margin<br />
was down seven-tenths of a point; higher commodity costs reduced our margin by 1.8 points.<br />
Total Automotive pre-tax operating profit in 2011 was $6.3 billion, an increase of $1 billion from 2010. The increase in<br />
earnings is explained by strong performance in market factors, and lower interest expense net of interest income (due<br />
primarily to lower debt levels). This was offset partially by higher contribution costs, higher structural costs (including the<br />
effect of higher volumes, new product launches, and investments to support our future product, capacity, and brandbuilding<br />
plans), higher compensation costs in North America, and unfavorable exchange.<br />
38 Ford Motor Company | 2011 Annual Report