It will be difficult to earn a profit in the fourth quarter

Martin Inglis, chief financial officer

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks in September, Ford sales slumped 10%, although rival DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler unit was even worse hit with a 28% tail-off.

The outlook for the last three months of the year is "volatile and uncertain," said Ford chief financial officer Martin Inglis. "It will be difficult to earn a profit in the fourth quarter".

He told financial analysts it is "fairly obvious" the firm will not achieve its target of a $5bn revenue increase in 2001.

Nasser at risk?

Meanwhile, Ford chief executive Jacques Nasser was under pressure as a magazine article claimed he had lost the support of the Ford family.

Forbes said in a story posted on its website that the family - which still controls 40% of board votes - wants Mr Nasser gone.

The fiasco surrounding problems with Firestone tyres, prompting a multi-billion dollar recall, along with other quality problems and persistent poor results, has sapped confidence in him, the article claims.

Forbes reporter Robyn Meredith told the BBC's World Business Report that her sources say Jacques Nasser will leave the company by the end of the year, although is unclear whether Bill Ford will take over.

On 15 September, the Standard & Poor's credit rating agency downgraded Ford's debt.

On Wall Street, Ford shares stood down $0.14 at $17.54 in late morning trade.