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 October 16, 2002
                                        ----------------
                        (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  October 16, 2002  concerning  third  quarter 2002
financial results, together with supplemental third quarter 2002 financial
information, filed as Exhibits 20 and 99.1 through 99.4, respectively,
to this report, are incorporated by reference herein.

     In addition,  our North  American and Overseas  Production  schedule  dated
October 16,  2002,  filed as Exhibit  99.5 to this report,  is  incorporated  by
reference herein.

     To view  slides  summarizing  our third  quarter  2002  financial  results,
investors  can  visit  the  following  web  site:  http://media.ford.com.  Also,
investors can access  replays of a conference  call with news media and security
analysts to review our third quarter  results that was hosted by Allan  Gilmour,
Ford's  Vice  Chairman  and Chief  Financial  Officer,  which  took place in the
morning on  October  16,  2002,  by  visiting  one of the  following  web sites:
www.shareholder.ford.com,    www.streetevents.com    (subscribers    only)    or
http://www.companyboardroom.com.

     Statements  included  herein may constitute  "forward  looking  statements"
within the  meaning of the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.
These  statements  involve a number of risks,  uncertainties,  and other factors
that  could  cause  actual  results  to differ  materially  from  those  stated,
including, without limitation:  greater price competition in the U.S. and Europe
resulting from currency fluctuations,  industry overcapacity or other factors; a
significant  decline in  industry  sales,  particularly  in the U.S.  or Europe,
resulting from slowing economic growth or other factors;  lower-than-anticipated
market  acceptance  of new or existing  products;  currency or  commodity  price
fluctuations;   economic   difficulties  in  South  America  or  Asia;   reduced
availability  of or higher  prices for fuel;  a market shift from truck sales in
the U.S.;  lower-than-anticipated  residual values for leased vehicles; a credit
rating  downgrade;  labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our
business;   increased  safety,  emissions,  fuel  economy  or  other  regulation
resulting in higher costs and/or sales restrictions;  work stoppages at key Ford
or supplier  facilities  or other  interruptions  of supplies;  the discovery of
defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches,  recall campaigns
or increased  warranty or litigation costs;  insufficient  credit loss reserves;
and our inability to implement the Revitalization Plan.



                                      -3-

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


                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

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

Exhibit 20             News Release dated
                       October 16, 2002                   Filed with this Report

Exhibit 99.1           Selected Consolidated Detail       Filed with this Report

Exhibit 99.2           Vehicle Unit Sales Detail          Filed with this Report

Exhibit 99.3           Automotive Geographic and          Filed with this Report
                       Cost of Sales Detail

Exhibit 99.4           Third Quarter 2002 Data            Filed with this Report
                       Sheet

Exhibit 99.5           North American and                 Filed with this Report
                       Overseas Production
                       schedule dated October 16, 2002






                                    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:  October 16, 2002                       By: /s/Kathryn S. Lamping
                                              --------------------------------
                                                  Kathryn S. Lamping
                                                  Assistant Secretary






                                      -4-


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

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

Exhibit 20                 News Release dated
                           October 16, 2002

Exhibit 99.1               Selected Consolidated Detail

Exhibit 99.2               Vehicle Unit Sales Detail

Exhibit 99.3               Automotive Geographic and
                           Cost of Sales Detail

Exhibit 99.4               Third Quarter 2002 Data
                           Sheet

Exhibit 99.5               North American and
                           Overseas Production
                           Schedule dated October 16, 2002