UNITED STATES
                       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: January 4, 2005
                        (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


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 140.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



<PAGE>


Item 8.01  Other Events.
------------------------

     The Ford Motor Company ("Ford") news release dated January 4, 2005,
concerning U.S. retail sales of Ford vehicles in December 2004, filed as
Exhibit 99 to this report, is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
----------------------------------------------


                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

Designation                Description                   Method of Filing
-----------                -----------                   ----------------

Exhibit 99                 Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           January 4, 2005             Filed with this Report









                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
                                            -------------------------
                                            (Registrant)


Date:  January 5, 2005               By: /s/ S. P. Thomas
                                             -------------------
                                             S. P. Thomas
                                             Assistant Secretary







                                      -2-

<PAGE>

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



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

 Exhibit 99                Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           January 4, 2005






                                       -3-
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{"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": "05512205"}, "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"}}
UNITED STATES
                       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: January 4, 2005
                        (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

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 140.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01  Other Events.
------------------------

     The Ford Motor Company ("Ford") news release dated January 4, 2005,
concerning U.S. retail sales of Ford vehicles in December 2004, filed as
Exhibit 99 to this report, is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
----------------------------------------------

                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

Designation                Description                   Method of Filing
-----------                -----------                   ----------------

Exhibit 99                 Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           January 4, 2005             Filed with this Report

                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
                                            -------------------------
                                            (Registrant)

Date:  January 5, 2005               By: /s/ S. P. Thomas
                                             -------------------
                                             S. P. Thomas
                                             Assistant Secretary

                                      -2-
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

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

 Exhibit 99                Ford Motor Company News
                           Release dated
                           January 4, 2005

                                       -3-