Ford Doesn’t Expect to Meet SUV Fuel Goal

Ford Motor Co. said it did not expect to meet its goal for improving the fuel-efficiency of sport utility vehicles as 2003 models slipped from the previous year.

The automaker set a goal of improving sport utility mileage 25% by the 2005 model year from five years earlier.

“Our current projections do not show us reaching the 25% level,” Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford’s annual citizenship report said.

Mileage for the 2003 vehicles was 5.2% better than that of 2000 models after an 8.4% improvement for 2002 versions.