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Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford with 11 investors. In 1908 the Model T was introduced, and in 1913 Ford revolutionized manufacturing with the moving assembly line, dramatically reducing production costs and making automobiles accessible to the middle class. By 1927 Ford had built 15 million Model Ts. Ford's influence on industrial labor practices was equally significant, with the 1914 five-dollar day wage nearly doubling the prevailing rate.
In later decades, Ford introduced the 1949 Ford, the 1955 Thunderbird, and in 1964 the Mustang, which created the pony car segment and sold over a million units in its first 18 months. Ford acquired Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo in the late 1980s and 1990s, then divested most of them after 2008.
Unlike GM and Chrysler, Ford avoided bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis by mortgaging its assets in 2006. The Ford F-Series has been America's best-selling truck for over 40 consecutive years. [Uncertain: the exact duration of F-Series leadership varies by source and metric; Ford claims 40+ years but some sources report interruptions by combined GM truck sales.]
Ford's moving assembly line was arguably the most consequential manufacturing innovation of the 20th century, transforming not just automotive production but all of industry. The 1964 Mustang pioneered the pony car segment and popularized the options-based ordering system.
Ford's 2006 mortgage of all company assets to secure a $23.5 billion loan, just before the 2008 crisis, was a notable strategic move that allowed Ford to avoid government bailout. In recent years, the Ford GT supercar and the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV have reasserted the brand's performance and technology credentials.
Ford's BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system is one of the few Level 2 systems approved for use on mapped divided highways. The F-150 Lightning represents Ford's commitment to electrifying its core product line, and Ford Pro has created a comprehensive commercial vehicle ecosystem for fleet customers.
Henry Ford and 11 investors incorporate Ford Motor Company.
The Ford Model T goes on sale, making automobile ownership attainable for ordinary Americans.
Ford introduces the moving assembly line, cutting Model T assembly time from 12 hours to 93 minutes.
The Ford Mustang is launched, creating the pony car segment and selling over 400,000 units in its first year.
Ford introduces the all-electric F-150 Lightning, electrifying America's best-selling vehicle.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers