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: April 1, 2003
                        (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>


Item 5.  Other Events.
----------------------

    The Ford  Motor  Company  ("Ford")  news  release  dated  April 1, 2003,
filed as Exhibit 99 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                 Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           April 1, 2003               Filed with this Report




                                       -2-
<PAGE>




                                    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:  April 1, 2003                 By: /s/ S. W. Murphy
                                             -------------------
                                             S. W. Murphy
                                             Assistant Secretary



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



Designation                Description
-----------                -----------

 Exhibit 99                Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           April 1, 2003






                                       -3-
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "e040103cover.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2924}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO", "cik": "0000038009", "assigned-sic": "6159", "irs-number": "381612444", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-06368", "film-number": "03634788"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE AMERICAN ROAD", "city": "DEARBORN", "state": "MI", "zip": "48126", "phone": "3135949876"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE AMERICAN ROAD", "city": "DEARBORN", "state": "MI", "zip": "48126"}}
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: April 1, 2003
                        (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
Item 5.  Other Events.
----------------------

    The Ford  Motor  Company  ("Ford")  news  release  dated  April 1, 2003,
filed as Exhibit 99 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                 Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           April 1, 2003               Filed with this Report

                                       -2-
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:  April 1, 2003                 By: /s/ S. W. Murphy
                                             -------------------
                                             S. W. Murphy
                                             Assistant Secretary

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

Designation                Description
-----------                -----------

 Exhibit 99                Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           April 1, 2003

                                       -3-