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The First Ford internal combustion engine came to life on Henry Ford’s kitchen table in 1888. He founded the Ford Motor Company a few years later. And we’ve been innovating ever since.
When the first Model T rolled out of a Ford factory in Michigan in 1908, it was a revolution. A car that was high-quality, easy to handle, and affordable (the Model T eventually cost just $260, a very reasonable price for the time). No longer were automobiles an indulgence for the wealthy. Instead, they became part of ordinary life and allowed ordinary people to access new freedoms.
The innovations weren’t Henry’s alone. Workers and managers at Ford factories contributed to the idea of the moving assembly line. Until then, the chassis was stationary and workers moved around it, slowly building the car up until it was finished. The assembly line turned this on its head, allowing the work to be taken to the workers. It once took 12 hours to build a Model T, the assembly line reduced that to one and a half hours.
Another innovation that started in Ford factories and spread around the world is the 5-day, 40-hour workweek. Introduced in 1926, it gave workers their time back and improved productivity at the same time.
That itch to innovate is what it means to be Ford. We’re still looking into the future, finding better ways to do things. It’s who we are.
In the 1960s, Ford Europe was created by the merger of Ford of Britain, Ford Germany, and the Irish Henry Ford & Son Ltd.
Its first vehicle was the front-engined Ford Transit van. Introduced in 1965, the Transit instantly became the van of choice for professionals. And it has been the best-selling commercial vehicle in most European countries ever since it was first launched.
We continued to innovate. In 1993, we launched the ground-breaking Ford Mondeo, which quickly picked up multiple awards. Later, we revolutionised automotive design with our Kinetic Design vision.
We don’t just make cars. We make mobility solutions for the world we live in. And as the world changes, so do we.
Back in the early days of the millennium, we started work on the EcoBoost engine. The goal was to create the most efficient internal combustion engine possible. We succeeded. This inventive and remarkably low-emissions engine was launched in 2012, and has been undefeated in its category launch ever since.
Meanwhile, we’ve turned our focus to the next industrial shift. We’re helping to electrify the world.
The first step was to create one of the world’s finest all-electric vehicles, the Mustang Mach-E. Soon, every one of our iconic nameplates will be electric.
In 2021, we announced a $30 billion dollar investment into electrification. On this journey, we want to go as far as we can, as fast as we can. Read more about our vision for the future.
Henry Ford changed the way of life for many people with his vision to make owning a car practical and affordable. The moving assembly line and mass production techniques he developed set the standard for worldwide industrial practice in the first half of the 20th Century.
At Ford, we have a proud heritage and an exciting future. But what good is aiming to build the world’s best vehicles without thinking about the world we build them for?
Our roads are changing. And so is how we use them. Whether driving or cycling, walking or scootering, it’s important that we all maintain a spirit of respect and understanding to help keep ourselves and others safe. That’s where Ford’s ‘Share The Road’ campaign comes in, to foster greater harmony between all of us who use the road – however we choose to travel.
