One of America's very first automobile industries, Ford Motor Company, was founded on June 16, 1903, when Henry Ford and eleven associates signed incorporation papers and sent them to Michigan's State Capitol in Lansing. The pioneering industrialists introduced what was to become one of the world's largest corporations. Few companies were as closely identified with the history and development of America throughout the 20th century as Ford.
At the time of its incorporation, Ford was a tiny operation in a converted Detroit wagon shop staffed with about ten people. On August 17, 1904, one year after the company was formed, the first foreign branch was incorporated in the small town of Walkerville, Ontario, with the imposing name of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. Production at the modest new plant began early in 1905. From this small beginning grew an overseas organization of manufacturing plants, assembly plants, parts depots and dealers, with Ford represented in some 200 countries and territories around the world. About 60,000 companies worldwide supply Ford with goods and services.
Almost 100 years later, the company became the world's second-largest industrial corporation, and the second-largest producer of cars and trucks, with active manufacturing, assembly or sales operations in 30 countries on six continents. More than 370,000 men and women came to work each day in Ford factories, laboratories and offices around the world.
Ford products were sold in more than 200 nations and territories by a global network of about 15,000 dealers. The company's annual sales exceeded the gross national products of many industrialized nations. With 6.7 million car and commercial vehicle sales in 1996, Ford held a 13 percent global share.
Ford is one of the three flagship manufacturers of American cars and trucks, alongside Chevrolet and Dodge.
Car models[]
Name | Model years | Type |
---|---|---|
Ford F-Series | 1948-present | Pickup truck |
Ford Thunderbird | 1955-1997 | Coupe |
Ford Club Wagon/Econoline | 1961-2014 | Van |
Ford Mustang | 1965-present | Coupe, convertible |
Ford Bronco | 1966-1996, 2021-present | Sport Utility |
Ford Escort | 1981-2002 | Hatchback, sedan, station wagon |
Ford Ranger | 1983-2011, 2019-present | Pickup truck |
Ford Tempo | 1984-1994 | Coupe, sedan |
Ford Aerostar | 1986-1997 | Minivan |
Ford Taurus | 1986-2019 | Sedan, station wagon |
Ford Festiva/Aspire | 1988-1993, 1994-1997 | Hatchback |
Ford Probe/Escort ZX2 | 1989-1997, 1998-2003 | Coupe |
Ford Explorer | 1991-present | Sport Utility |
Ford Crown Victoria | 1992-2012 | Sedan |
Ford Windstar | 1995-2003 | Minivan |
Ford Contour | 1995-2000 | Sedan |
Ford Expedition | 1996-present | Sport Utility |
Sales[]
Calendar year | Taurus | Mustang | Crown Victoria | F-Series | Explorer | Ranger |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 299,659 | 98,737 | 282,837 | 233,503 | ||
1992 | 409,751 | 79,280 | 292,069 | 247,777 | ||
1993 | 360,448 | 114,335 | 101,685 | 565,089 | 301,668 | 340,184 |
1994 | 397,037 | 123,198 | 103,040 | 646,039 | 278,065 | 344,744 |
1995 | 366,266 | 136,962 | 98,163 | 691,452 | 395,227 | 309,085 |
1996 | 401,049 | 122,674 | 108,789 | 780,838 | 402,663 | 288,393 |
1997 | 357,162 | 116,610 | 107,872 | 746,111 | 383,852 | 298,796 |
1998 | 371,074 | 144,732 | 111,531 | 836,629 | 431,488 | 328,136 |
1999 | 368,327 | 166,915 | 114,669 | 869,001 | 428,772 | 348,358 |
Shipping prices[]
All destination charges for every one of Ford's 1995 models increased on January 12, 1995.