Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company (FMC; often known as Ford) is an American multinational automaker, founded on June 16, 1903 by Henry Ford. Ford, which owns the luxury vehicle manufacturer Lincoln, was the second-largest automaker, after General Motors, 1931 to 2004. Formerly, Ford also owned the following brands:

 Mercury (1939–January 2011; discontinued)
 Aston Martin (1987–March 2007)
 Mazda (owned a 33.4 % controlling-stake in Mazda 1996 to November 2008)
 Jaguar (1989–June 2, 2008; sold to Tata Motors)
 Land Rover (May 2000–June 2, 2008; sold to Tata Motors)
 Volvo (1999–2010; sold to Geely)
 Ford Transit (1978 circa - 1988; sold at Greco Franco)

 History 

In 1896, Henry Ford had an idea to make a Quadricycle, the first "horseless carriage" he built. This four-wheeled vehicle was very different from cars we drive now. It was very different even from vehicles Ford produced just a few years later. Even so, this was the start of Ford's career as a businessman. Until the Quadricycle, Ford's work had been experimental and theoretical. For example, in the 1890s, Ford built a gas engine on his kitchen table — just an engine with nothing to power. Enough people liked the Quadricycle, and much could be done with the it, so it led to the beginning of Ford's business.

Ford Motor Company started on June 16, 1903, when Henry Ford and 11 business helpers signed papers to form the company. Their first Ford production car, the Model A, was sold in Detroit, Michigan a few months later. (This Model A should not be confused with their more famous Model A, which came out in 1927). With $280,000 (around 165 000 pounds), the early businessmen made what was to become one of the world's largest companies. Few companies changed the history and development of industry and society in the 20th century as much as Ford Motor Company.

 Mass production on the line 

Ford Motor Company's most important contribution to automotive manufacturing was the (moving) assembly line. First implemented at the Highland Park plant (in Michigan, US) in 1913, this new method let each workers to stay in one place, to do the same job repeatedly as the vehicles went by on the assembly line. The line proved to be very efficient; it helped the company make more cars, and make them cheaper than other car companies could do at the time. Before using the assembly line, Ford made 12,000 Model T's in a year.  With the assembly line, Ford could make 12,000 Model T's in just two days. Ford had discovered how to make more cars that more people could afford to buy.  He even paid his workers higher salaries than other car companies and still made money.

 Early growth 

Henry Ford insisted that the company's future lay in the production of affordable cars for a mass market. In 1903, the company began using the first 19 letters of the alphabet to name new cars. In 1908, the Model T was born, and it was sold for 19 years. By selling 15 million Model T's, Ford Motor Company became a giant company which spanned the globe.  They built plants in the Soviet Union, Japan and other places. Ford started making farm tractors, trucks and school buses. In 1925, Ford Motor Company bought the Lincoln Motor Company.  It uses that name to build luxury cars. In the 1930s, the name "Mercury" was given to its mid-priced cars. Ford Motor Company was growing.

 Former production vehicles 

 1900–1929 
 Name   Image Model A   1903-1904  100px Model B   1904–1906  100px Model C  1904–1905  100px Model F  1905–1906  100px Model K  1906–1908  100px Model N / R / S  1906–1909  100px Model T   1908–1927  100px Model A (1927)   1927–1931 100px Model TT   1925–1927  100px Model AA   1927–1931  100px

 1930–1939 
 Name   Image Model B / BB / 18 / 40   1932–1934  100px Model Y    1932–1937  100px Köln   1932–1935  100px Rheinland   1933–1936  100px Model 48    1935–1936  100px Model C Ten    1935–1937  100px Eifel    1935–1939  100px Ford CX    1935–1937, UK  100px 1937    1937–1940  100px 7W   1937–1938, UK  100px 7Y   1938–1939, UK  100px Prefect  1938–1961  100px Anglia   1939–1967   100px Taunus    1939–1994  100px  Fordson E83W   1938–1957  100px

 1940–1949 
 Name   Image 1941  1941–19421946–1948   100px Vedette   1948–1954  100px Pilot   1947–1951  100px 1949    1949–1951 100px Custom    1949–1981  100px 
Notes

 1950–1959 
 Name   Image 1952    1952–1954  100px 1955    1955–1956  100px 1957    1957–1959  100px Consul    1951–19621972–1975   100px Country Sedan    1952–1974  100px Country Squire    1950–1991  100px Courier     1952–2013  100px Crestline    1950–1951  100px Del Rio    1957–1958   100px Escort (100E)    1955–1961  100px Fairlane    1955–1970   100px Galaxie    1959–1974  100px Mainline    1952–1956  100px Parklane    1956  100px Popular    1953–1962  100px Ranchero     1957–1979  100px Squire    1955–1959  100px Thunderbird     1955–1997 2002–2005  100px Versailles     1954–1957  100px Zephyr    1950–1971   100px   C Series    1957–1990   100px FK   1951–1961  100px 
Notes

 1960–1969 
 Name   Image 1960    1960–1964  100px Falcon    1960–1970  100px Falcon    1960–2016  100px E-Series / Econoline    1961–2014   100px Cortina     1962–1982  100px FairlaneThunderbolt    1964  100px GT40    1964–1969   100px Corsair     1964–1970  100px LTD  1965–1986  100px Fairmont    1965-2008   100px P7     1967-1972  100px Fairlane    1967–2007  100px Torino    1968–1976 100px Capri (coupe)    1968–1986  100px Corcel    1968–1986  100px Escort     1968–2000  100px N-Series    1962–1969  100px D-Series    1965-1981  100px W-Series    1966–1977  100px
Notes

 1970–1979 
 Name   Image Maverick    1970–1979  100px Pinto     1971–1980  100px P100    1971–1993  100px Granada    1972–1994  100px Landau    1971–1983  100px Landau    1973–1976  100px Elite   1974–1976  100px Granada    1975–1982  100px Fiesta   1976–2023 100px Fairmont    1978–1983  100px Durango    1979–1982  100px Econovan /Spectron    1977–1999   100px L-Series    1970–1998  100px Transcontinental    1975-1984   100px CL-Series    1978-1991  100px
Notes

 1980–1989 
 Name   Image Capri    1989–1994  100px Del Rey    1981–1991  100px Escort    1981–2003  100px EXP    1982–1988  100px Festiva    1988–1992  100px Laser    1980–2003  100px LTD Crown Victoria    1980–1991  100px Orion    1983–1993  100px Probe    1989–1997  100px RS200    1984–1986  100px Scorpio    1985–1999  100px Sierra    1982–1992  100px Telstar    1983–1999  100px Taurus    1985–2019  100px Tempo    1984–1994  100px Verona    1989–2000  100px Maverick    1988–1994  100px Bronco II    1984–1990  100px Aerostar    1986–1997  100px Cargo   1982–2019  180px N-Series    1982–1997  100px Bantam    1983–2011  100px Pronto     1985–2007  100px
Notes

 1990–1999 
 Name   Image Aspire    1993–1997  100px Contour    1995–2000  100px Cougar    1999–2002  100px Crown Victoria   1992–2011  100px Ka    1996–2021  100px Puma (coupe)    1997–2002  100px Ikon    1999–2015  100px Focus    1998–2020  100px Raider    1991-1997  100px Maverick    1993–1999  100px Explorer    1994–2003  100px Freda     1995 100px Galaxy    1995–2023  100px Windstar    1995–2003  100px
Notes

 2000–2009 
 Name   Image Activa    2003  100px GT   2004–2022 100px Five Hundred  2005–2007 100px Fusion  2006–2020  100px Excursion  2000–2005  100px Escape  2001–2008  100px EcoSport   2003–2022 100px Territory  2004–2016  100px Freestyle   2005–2007  100px Taurus X   2008–2009  100px Flex  2009–2019  100px Fusion   2002–2012  100px i-Max  2007–2011  100px C-Max    2003–2019 100px Freestar   2003–2007 100pxS-Max   2006–2023 100px Explorer Sport Trac  2001–2010 100px LCF   2006–2009 100px
Notes

 2010–2019 
 Name   Image Escort   2015–2023  100px Focus Electric   2012–2019  100px Figo   2010–2021 100px Taurus 2015–2022 100px B-Max  2012–2017  100px Grand C-Max  2010–2019 100px C-Max 2013–2019100px
Notes

 Current production vehicles 
Body styleModelCurrent generationVehicle description ImageName(s)Introduction( year)Introduction( year)FaceliftMain marketsHatchback180pxFocus199820182021EuropeC-segment / small family  compact hatchback predominantly sold in Europe. Expected to be discontinued in 2025. Sedan frameless|180pxMondeo/Taurus19922022—China and Middle EastD-segment/Large family/mid-size sedan and liftback currently marketed in China. Marketed as the Taurus in the Middle East.Station wagon 180px Focus 1998 2018 2021EuropeStation wagon version of the Focus.Sports car 180px Mustang 1964 2022 –GlobalLong-running pony/muscle car. Available in coupé and convertible body styles.SUV/crossover 180pxBronco 1965 2020 —Americas, Europe and Middle EastOff-road oriented mid-size body-on-frame SUV. Available in three-door and five-door configurations.  180pxBronco Sport 2020 2020 —Americas and Middle EastRetro-styled compact crossover SUV using the Bronco nameplate. 180pxCapri EV 2024 2024 —EuropeBattery electric C-segment/compact crossover for the European market, based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform. 180px Edge 2006 2023 —ChinaD-segment/Mid-size crossover marketed in China and manufactured by Changan Ford. 180x180pxEquator 2021 2021 2024ChinaThree-row mid-size crossover marketed in China and manufactured by JMC-Ford. 180x180pxEscape 2000 2019 2022 Americas, Europe, AustralasiaC-segment/compact crossover SUV marketed globally. Escape (global nameplate) and Kuga (Europe) was a separate model up to 2012 when the model was merged. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are optional. 180pxKuga 2008 180pxEverest 2003 2022 — Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle EastMid-size body-on-frame SUV based on the Ranger.frameless|180pxExpedition19962025— Americas and Middle EastFull-size body-on-frame SUV. Also available with a longer body variant called the Expedition Max.180pxExplorer199020192022 Americas, Europe, Middle East and AsiaThree-row mid-size crossover SUV. Also available as a police fleet vehicle called the Police Interceptor Utility. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are optional.180pxExplorer EV20242024— EuropeBattery electric compact crossover for the European market, based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform.180pxMondeo Sport20212021— ChinaLow-slung mid-size crossover marketed in China and manufactured by Changan Ford. Marketed as the Ford Evos before 2024.180pxMustangMach-E20202020 —GlobalBattery electric compact crossover using the Mustang nameplate.180pxPuma201920192024 Europe and AustralasiaB-segment/subcompact crossover SUV based on the Fiesta marketed in Europe and Australasia.180pxTerritory / Equator Sport201820222024 Asia, Africa, Middle East and South America Compact crossover SUV manufactured by JMC-Ford joint venture in China, and exported to emerging countries.Pickuptruck 180px180pxF-Series 1948 2020 2023 Americas and Middle EastFull-size pickup truck mainly marketed in North America. Historically the best-selling vehicle in the United States (since 1977) and Canada. Line-up includes the F-150 pickup, F-250 through F-450 Super Duty heavy duty pickups. F-450/550 Super Duty class 4-5 trucks and F-650/750 Super Duty class 6-8 trucks are commercial chassis and cab vehicles.180pxF-150 Lightning20222022— North America and othersBattery electric version of the fourteenth-generation Ford F-150. 180px Ranger 1981 2022 – GlobalMid-size pickup truck sold globally. Available in single cab (except North America), space cab, and double cab configurations.180pxMaverick 2021 2021 — AmericasCompact pickup truck sold in North America and South America. Based on a front-wheel-drive unibody platform shared with the Escape and Bronco Sport.  180px Transit 1965 2013 2020 Europe and AustralasiaPickup version of the Transit van.MPV/minivan 180x180pxTourneo Courier20142022 — EuropePassenger version of the Transit Courier.180pxTourneo Connect 2002 2021 — EuropeThree-Row Compact MPV. Rebadged Volkswagen Caddy. 180x180pxTourneo Custom 2012 2022 — EuropePassenger version of the Transit Custom marketed in Europe.Van 180x180px Transit Courier 2014 2023 — Europe and othersSmall van based on Fiesta platform mainly marketed in Europe. Available as a four-door or five-door van. The passenger-focused leisure activity vehicle version is called the Tourneo Courier. 180px Transit Connect 2002 2022 —Europe and othersCompact van based on Focus platform mainly marketed in Europe and North America. Available as a four-door or five-door van. The passenger-focused leisure activity vehicle version is called the Tourneo Connect. 180x180pxTransit Custom 2012 2022 — Europe and othersMid-size van mainly marketed in Europe, Australasia and China. Available as a four-door or five-door van. The passenger-focused leisure activity vehicle version is called the Tourneo Custom. A campervan version is called the Transit Custom Nugget. 180pxTransit 1965 2013 2020 GlobalFull-size, rear-wheel-drive van. Available as a cargo van, passenger van, chassis cab, and cutaway van.Heavy commercial vehicles180pxF-MAX20182018—EuropeHeavy-duty truck developed and manufactured by Ford Otosan in Turkey. Sold in China as the JMC Weilong HV5. 180px Transit Cutaway 1965 2013 2020Europe, North America and othersCutaway version of the Transit van. 180pxE-Series Cutaway197519922021North AmericaA cutaway version of the E-Series. 180pxF-Series 1948 2015 2020 North AmericaCommercial medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks derived from the smaller F-Series pickup trucks. frameless|180px Super Duty 1999 2023 — North America Chassis-cab versions of the Super Duty pickups.

 References 

Category:Automobile brands
Category:Ford
Category:1903 establishments in the United States
Category:Companies based in Michigan
Category:1900s establishments in Michigan
Category:Dearborn, Michigan