SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT




                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report December 5, 2001
                                         ---------------
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


                               FORD MOTOR COMPANY
                               ------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
                                    --------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         1-3950                                            38-0549190
         -------                                           ----------
   (Commission File Number)                    (IRS Employer Identification No.)


 One American Road, Dearborn,  Michigan                       48126
 --------------------------------------                       -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)



         Registrant's telephone number, including area code 313-322-3000
                                                            ------------





                                      -2-

Item 5.  Other Events.
---------------------

     Our news release  dated  December 5, 2001  concerning an update to our 2001
fourth quarter financial forecast, filed as Exhibit 20 to this Current Report on
Form 8-K, is incorporated by reference herein.

     To view slides  concerning the update to our 2001 fourth quarter  financial
forecast,  presented  by I.  Martin  Inglis,  Ford's  Chief  Financial  Officer,
investors  can  visit  the  following  web  site:  http://media.ford.com.  Also,
investors can access replays of a conference call hosted by Mr. Inglis that took
place in the morning on December 5, 2001,  by visiting one of the  following web
sites: www.streetfusion.com or www.streetevents.com.



Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

Designation            Description                       Method of Filing
-----------            -----------                       ----------------

Exhibit 20             News Release dated
                       December 5, 2001                  Filed with this Report






                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated.

                                               FORD MOTOR COMPANY
                                               --------------------------------
                                               (Registrant)


Date:  December 5, 2001                        By:/s/Kathryn S. Lamping
                                               --------------------------------
                                                     Kathryn S. Lamping
                                                     Assistant Secretary




                                      -3-


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------


Designation                Description
-----------                -----------

Exhibit 20                 News Release dated December 5, 2001