Ford boss talks up the pace of US recovery

FORD chief executive Alan Mulally said yesterday the company was "cautiously optimistic" that it would continue to grow as the US economy recovers.

"This is a slower recovery from the previous recessions," Mulally said in a television interview. "We have sized ourselves to the current demand and we're cautiously optimistic that we're going to continue to grow here."

Asked if he thought the US was likely to experience a "double dip" recession, Mulally said: "We do not. I think with the monetary and the fiscal policy, and everybody's attention on growing the economy ... I think that we're going to have good, steady growth here."

Mulally said Ford, which unveiled the new version of its Explorer SUV yesterday at events across the US, hoped to be able to create more jobs as the economy improved.

"It will clearly be determined by how fast the economy comes back and the industry," he said.

"With the position that we are in today, we are going to be able to offer some great jobs going forward."