FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) joined Toyota in recalling cars because the carpeting got in the way. Ford is recalling 8,266 brand new 2013 Escape cars because the carpet can get in the way and make it hard to put on the brakes.

The number of Americans lining up for new jobless benefits last week had its biggest decline in four years, the Labor Department said Thursday, but one-time factors such as fewer auto-sector layoffs than normal plus the July 4 holiday likely caused the sharp decline.

Ford Motor Company, Ellie Mae Inc, Infosys Ltd, ArcelorMittal, Banco Santander S.A., Nokia Corporation and Deutsche Bank AG are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Monday.

All major automakers posted big gains in pickup truck sales in June, usually a slow month for pickup truck sales, as contractors replaced old trucks because of a rebound in construction and new home starts.

U.S. car sales revved up again in June after lackluster May sales numbers as consumers continued to flock to dealer lots to replace aging vehicles and buy new trucks and crossover SUVs.

June U.S. car sales rose across the board, surging above the 14 million unit seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of sales after a lackluster May, indicating a continued recovery for the industry that will likely carry through the second half.

Ford reported Tuesday that June sales rose 7 percent over the year before driven by strong sales of trucks and SUVs.

Detroit?s carmakers saw strong June U.S. car sales with Chrysler Group LLC, a subsidiary of Italian Fiat SpA (Milan: F), reporting 20 percent year-over-year sales growth and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) reporting more modest 7 percent sales gains.

While this week will be interrupted midway by the Fourth of July holiday, the barbecues and fireworks are unlikely to take away from the importance of Friday's June nonfarm payrolls report. Monday's ISM manufacturing index will also be in focus.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) must be asking itself when the European automotive market becomes too toxic as sales in the region slump, the euro zone teeters on the brink of disaster and carmaker predicts European losses of close to $600 million in the second quarter.

NASCAR fans are car fans, and the racing league and manufacturers like Toyota that compete in the Spring Cup Series are betting that some design tweaks can energize that fandom as well as dealership sales.

Last week thousands of retirees were suddenly faced by what for many would be the largest financial decision of their lives when both Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) announced they would launch immense pension buyout plans unprecedented in the United States.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is considering launching local China-only brands as it continues to try and bolster its own brand in the largest global auto market, according to Reuters Monday.

The U.S. had been losing industrial jobs to low-cost countries, particularly in Asia, for years, but its manufacturing sector appears to be staging a surprising turnaround. In 2009, manufacturing accounted for about 11 percent of U.S. gross domestic product; in 2011, the comparable figure was 12.2 percent.

Continued strong car sales were joined by a surge in truck and SUV demand to drive a 12.6 percent growth in May U.S. sales for Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), which cited demand for fuel efficient vehicles as a primary driver of growth.

Sales grew across the board in May for U.S. automakers with Chrysler Group LLC, a subsidiary of Italian Fiat S.p.A. (Milan: F), leading the way in growth and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) leading in volume, while Ford's car and truck sales remained strong on demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. The Asian carmakers also reported U.S. sales on Friday with Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) enjoying bumper growth of 73 percent.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) will offer a pension buyout to 98,000 retirees and former employees of the nation's second biggest car company, Reuters reported Thursday.

Ford Motor Co will pursue its boldest attempt yet to tackle a nearly $50 billion risk to its business when it begins offering lump-sum pension payout offers to 98,000 white-collar retirees and former employees this summer.

The economic calendar is quite full this week, with most of the focus on the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report. The Institute for Supply Management, or ISM, manufacturing index and the second estimate of U.S. first-quarter gross domestic product also will draw a lot of attention.

U.S. auto sales will likely reach a 14.2 million seasonally adjusted annual sales rate in May 2012, the greatest year-over-year gain in more than 12 months, as consumers take advantage of credit and low interest rates to replace aging cars. Moreover, increasing car sales are now a primary driver of U.S. GDP growth, according to a Wednesday report by Kelley Blue Book.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) shares climbed almost 2 percent in mid-day trading Wednesday, a day after Moody's Investors Service upgraded the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker's credit rating to investment grade.