New York - US automotive concern Ford reported Thursday that it lost 5.9 billion dollars in the final quarter of 2008, boosting the full-year red ink to 14.6 billion dollars.

In 2007, Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford had lost 2.7 billion dollars.

The fourth quarter losses came as meanwhile sales plunged by one- third to 29.2 billion dollars, the company said. Full-year sales in
2008 came to 146.3 billion dollars, down 15 per cent.

Ford again insisted it would not need the billions of dollars' worth of emergency federal assistance for the car industry, in contrast to General Motors and Chrysler which are now surviving on the emergency support.

Ford also said it expects to return its operating results to the black by the year 2011, in keeping with its previous projections. (dpa)