-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QDq3++VLZzHoSZb5TZhduvn1HXij+tq0RkVmnXI8dPGWe8xeKyaKDOQ8vjb77xYa
 ZGy0BtdHVVdO04mmWwFTEA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950124-00-007627.txt : 20001225
<SEC-HEADER>0000950124-00-007627.hdr.sgml : 20001225
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950124-00-007627
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20001221
ITEM INFORMATION:		
ITEM INFORMATION:		
FILED AS OF DATE:		20001222

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORD MOTOR CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000037996
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES [3711]
		IRS NUMBER:				380549190
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03950
		FILM NUMBER:		794468

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AMERICAN ROAD
		CITY:			DEARBORN
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3133223000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>k59247e8-k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1




                       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 22, 2000
                                -----------------
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


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


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


          1-6368                                  38-1612444
         -------                                  ----------
 (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
                                                            ------------






<PAGE>   2



Item 5.  Other Events.

         The Ford Motor Company ("Ford") news release dated December 21, 2000
concerning Ford's vehicle production in the fourth quarter of 2000 and first
quarter of 2001, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report, is incorporated by
reference herein.


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


                                    EXHIBITS

Designation                Description                    Method of Filing


Exhibit 99.1               Ford Motor Company
                           News Release dated
                           December 21, 2000              Filed with this Report

<PAGE>   3


                                    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 CREDIT COMPANY
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             (Registrant)


Date:  December 22, 2000                     By:  /s/ E. E. Smith-Sulfaro
                                                -------------------------
                                                E. E. Smith-Sulfaro
                                                Assistant Secretary

<PAGE>   4

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Designation                Description

Exhibit 99.1               Ford Motor Company
                           News Release dated
                           December 21, 2000

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>k59247ex99-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEWS RELEASE
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                     NEWS RELEASE

Contact:  George Pipas
          (313) 323-9216

FORD MOTOR COMPANY LOWERS FIRST QUARTER 2001 NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION PLAN

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 21, 2000 - Ford Motor Company announced today that it has
revised downward its first quarter 2001 North American production plan. The
company now plans to produce 1,050,000 vehicles in the first quarter, down
107,000 units (nine percent) from the prior plan. The company's first quarter
2001 North American production plan is down 220,000 units (17 percent) from the
first quarter 2000.

"It's clear that U.S. economic growth is slowing," said Martin Inglis, Vice
President, Ford North America, "and surveys of consumer sentiment point to lower
levels of spending in the future. The revised first quarter plan is intended to
align our U.S. inventories with consumer demand. We're making every effort to
stay in front of the slowing demand curve."

Inglis said the first quarter production cuts involve a one-week idling for most
North American assembly plants. "The production cuts are front-loaded in the
quarter," said Inglis, "with most of the downtime scheduled for the last two
weeks of January. This gives us the flexibility to assess the economic picture
again before the spring selling season. At the same time, we are intensifying
our efforts to achieve operating efficiencies and cost improvements."

Ford also announced that its fourth quarter 2000 production plan was reduced by
weather-related losses in North America and parts shortages outside North
America. As a result, the company expects fourth quarter earnings will be
reduced by about 10 cents per share from the present First Call consensus
analyst estimate of 74 cents a share.



Sales Analysis and Reporting,The American Road, Room 1017, Dearborn, MI 48121
Telephone: (313) 323-9216; Fax:  (313) 323-0610
Internet: http://media.ford.com

<PAGE>   2


Downtime in Ford Motor Company's first quarter 2001 North American production
plan is as follows:

Week of January 1, 2001
         Atlanta Assembly Plant        Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable

Week of January 8, 2001
         Atlanta Assembly Plant        Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
         Hermosillo Assembly Plant     Ford Escort/ZX2
         Michigan Truck Plant          Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator

Week of January 22, 2001
         Avon Lake Assembly Plant      Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest
         Cuautitlan Assembly Plant     Ford F-Series
         Chicago Assembly Plant        Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
         Edison Assembly Plant         Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series
         Kansas City Assembly Plant    Ford F-Series
         Lorain Assembly Plant         Ford Econoline
         Norfolk Assembly Plant        Ford F-Series
         Oakville Assembly Plant       Ford Windstar
         Ontario Truck Plant           Ford F-Series
         Twin Cities Assembly Plant    Ford Ranger
         St. Thomas Assembly Plant     Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
         Wayne Assembly Plant          Ford Focus
         Wixom Assembly Plant          Lincoln Town Car, Continental, LS

Week of January 29, 2001
         Avon Lake Assembly Plant      Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest
         Cuautitlan Assembly Plant     Ford F-Series
         Lorain Assembly Plant         Ford Econoline






</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
