Do you know who they belong to? In principle, at first glance, the answer to this question is quite easy. But it's not so simple. Especially with regards to the various divisions of well-known brands, in which you can even get confused. Plus, over the past decades, many car brands have become the property of other car companies. So today only an expert and connoisseur of the modern car market can easily name who owns car brands.
For example, for decades the British brand Vauxhall and the German Opel brand belonged to the American company General Motors. But in March 2017, the deal of the year (maybe even the deal of the decade) took place, in which the PSA group of companies acquired the Vauxhall and Opel car brands for $2.3 billion. This means that now the Vauxhall and Opel brands are owned by a joint company of Peugeot and Citroën brands, which created the PSA auto alliance. That is, now the Vauxhall and Opel brands belong to French car brands.
So, as you can see, not everything is so simple in the modern car market. But thanks to our material, you can find out who is what automotive brands owns today. This will help you not only expand your knowledge in the automotive world, but also become a real connoisseur in the world of automotive corporations.
BMW Group
Manufacturer aircraft engines Rapp Motorenwerke created Bayerische Motoren Werke in 1917. Bayerische Motoren Werke further merged with the aviation company ayerische Flugzeug-Werke in 1922. In 1923, the combined corporation began to produce engines for motorcycles, and also launched the production of motorbikes. In 1928, the production of automobiles began. Today it has a rather simple structure.
Here are the brands currently owned by the BMW Group:
bmw
Mini
Rolls Royce
BMW Motorrad (motorcycle brand)
Daimler
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) was founded in 1899. It merged with Benz & Cie in 1926. From that moment on, Daimler-Benz AG appeared in the world.
The headquarters is located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The company has a fairly complex corporate structure that includes brands ranging from microcar maker Smart to school bus maker.
Here are the brands Daimler owns today:
mercedes benz
Smart
Mercedes-Benz Truck (Manufacturer of trucks)
Freightliner (U.S. tractor and truck manufacturer)
Fuso (Manufacture of commercial trucks)
Western Star (Manufacture of semi-trailers)
Bharatbenz (Indian automobile company that manufactures buses and trucks)
Mercedes-Benz Vans (Manufacturer of minibuses and minivans)
Mercedes-Benz Buses (Bus manufacturer)
Setra (Manufacture of buses)
Thomas Built (Manufacturer of school buses)
(Mercedes-AMG (production of powerful and sports cars based on production models Mercedes is a division that is part of Daimler AG).
General Motors
In 1908, Buick owner William K. Durant, together with the Olds Motor Vehicle Company (Oldsmobile), founded a holding company that was supposed to help automobile brands compete in the car market. In 1909, Cadillac and Oakland joined the holding, which later received the new name Pontiac. Later, General Motors began to take over many small car companies. So, in 1918, the brand entered the holding.
General Motors is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
In 2008 after the global financial crisis Company General Motors has shut down brands such as Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer.
The corporation currently controls the following companies:
Autobaojun (Car manufacturer in China)
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
GMC
Holden (Australian car manufacturer)
Jiefang (Chinese company that manufactures commercial vehicles)
Wuling (Car manufacturer in China)
Fiat Chrysler
Italian company and American Chrysler brand officially completed their merger in October 2014, creating an alliance Fiat Chrysler automobiles. This process started in 2011.
Recall that Fiat began its history back in 1899 (Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino).
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is technically headquartered in London, England. However, most of the actual work is done at Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, and Fiat's headquarters in Turin, Italy.
The FCA Alliance manages:
Chrysler
Dodge
Jeep
Ram
fiat
Alfa Romeo
Fiat Professional
Lancia
Maserati
Tata Motors is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
Tata operates the following companies:
Tata
Land Rover
Jaguar
Tata Daewoo (Production of commercial vehicles)
Toyota Group
The automotive division of Toyoy Automatic Loom Works entered the automotive market in 1935 with the launch of the G1 pickup truck. Then in 1937 the automobile division was spun off into a separate company motor company. First Toyota car became the GA truck that replaced old model Toyota G1.
Toyota is headquartered in Toyota City, Japan.
Toyota Group owns:
Toyota
Lexus
Hino (Production of commercial vehicles)
Daihatsu
Volkswagen Group
The roots go back to the days of Nazi Germany, when the country sought to create a "people's machine" to mobilize the population. Incidentally, before World War II Volkswagen was able to produce the first batch of such cars. But then the plant switched to the production of military vehicles. Post-war production people's car"continued. It was the legendary Beetle (Volkswagen Beetle). As a result, 21 million cars were produced.
Volkswagen headquarters is located in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The Volkswagen Group currently controls:
Volkswagen
Audi
Bentley
Bugatti
Lamborghini
Porsche
SEAT
Skoda
MAN (Production of heavy trucks)
Scania (Another company that produces heavy trucks and trucks)
Volkswagen Commercial (Manufacture of commercial vehicles: minivans, minibuses, vans)
Ducati (Motorcycle manufacturing)
Zhejiang Geely
Li Shufu founded Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 1986. In 1997 he created Geely Automobile. Despite the fact that this is a fairly young car company, the concern owns several large car holdings through smart acquisitions.
Zhejiang Geely is headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
The company controls the following brands:
Geely Auto
Volvo
lotus
Proton (Malaysia)
London EV Company (Production of taxi cars for London)
Polestar (Manufacture of electric vehicles)
Lynk & Co (Premium brand focused on the production of expensive electric cars)
Yuan Cheng Auto (Manufacture of commercial vehicles)
Terrafugia (Flying car manufacturing)
Recent investments make Geely largest shareholder of Volvo AB, which manufactures commercial vehicles and is responsible for brands and Renault Trucks(production Volvo trucks and Renault).
Ford Motor Company is an American automobile company specializing in the production of Ford, Mercury, Lincoln passenger cars, trucks, various agricultural machinery. Ford owns Jaguar. The headquarters is located in Dearborn (Michigan), near which was once the farm of Henry Ford's parents.
The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and, according to the idea of its creator, was immediately intended for the production of a mass cheap car. Initially, this was the "A" model, in 1908 it was replaced by the "T" model, dubbed "tin Lizzy" by cartoonists. The success of the new model was so great that the ever-expanding Ford factories could not cope with orders. In the first year of production of this model, 10,660 cars were sold, which broke all records in automotive industry that time.
At Ford Motor in 1913, for the first time in the world, a method of standardizing interchangeable parts of products and a conveyor technology for assembling automobiles were introduced in production, which made it possible to raise labor productivity by 40-60% in just one year. At the same time, the wages of workers and employees increased so that they exceeded the industry average twice. Enterprises are introducing an eight-hour working day. By the middle of 1914, 500,000 Model Ts had been produced; by 1923, every second car in America was made at Ford Motor factories.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Ford Motor actively opened branches in many countries of the world, including cooperating with Soviet Russia(creation of GAZ, AMO plants). Although Henry Ford was sharply negative about the October Revolution, he nevertheless believed that Russia had a great future if it embarked on the path of industrial development.
In 1922 Ford Motor acquired the Lincoln Company, which was entrusted to Edsel Ford. The older Ford's authoritarian management style becomes a favorite target of the leftist press, and Ford's refusal to tolerate unions in his factories sparks a campaign of real harassment. However, by the end of the 1920s, Americans were tired of the monotonous “T” model. Competitors from General Motors are breaking ahead, Ford Motor responds with the Ford A model, the popularity of which still lags behind Chevy and Buicks.
The Great Depression of 1929 dramatically reduced car sales. Wages are cut in half.
In 1932, the beginning of mass production of V-shaped 8-cylinder engines. Ford Motor Company becomes the first company to produce a monolithic eight-cylinder block. It will be many more years before Ford's competitors can mass-produce reliable V-8 engines. In the meantime, the Ford car and its reliable engine have become a favorite of practical Americans. An assembly plant was opened in Cologne.
Comparatively successful was the Mercury line of cars, launched in 1938. The company is nominally run by Edsel Ford, but his authority cannot be compared to that of his father. Business begins to stagnate, which lasted until the outbreak of World War II, when military orders improved things.
From 1942 to 47, the production of civilian vehicles stopped abruptly, because. the company directed all its efforts to military needs. The gigantic wartime program started by Edzel Ford produced 8,600 four-engined V-24 Liberator bombers, 57,000 aircraft engines, and more than a quarter of a million tanks, anti-tank mounts, and other military equipment in less than 3 years.
After the brief reign of old Ford (Edsel died in 1943), in 1945 power passed to Henry Ford II, who breathed new life into the company.
Ford Jr. reorganizes the recruitment system, uses brainstorming methods known to him from the war to develop the firm's strategy, inviting a group of system analysts.
In 1949 Ford Motor Company sells approximately 807,000 vehicles, increasing its profit from $94 million (the previous year) to $177 million and reaching its highest sales since 1929. Henry Ford II's post-war reorganization program quickly restored the company's health. The result was the construction of 44 manufacturing plants, 18 assembly plants, 32 parts depots, two huge test sites, and 13 engineering and research laboratories in the United States.
The launch of the Thunderbird series in 1955 and the now classic Mustang strengthened the financial position Ford Motor. The attractive 1965 4-seater Mustang became America's darling. In the first 100 days, 100,000 of these cars were sold. Total sales for the year were 418,812 vehicles, generating $1 billion in profits for the company.
In 1968, the first 1.6-litre Escort Twin Cam launched its racing career, successfully opening the season and winning circuits in Ireland, the Danish Tulip, the Austrian Alps, the Acropolis and the Scottish Rally for eight weeks. By the end of its first season, the Escort had won the famous 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, helping Ford secure a strong position in the World New Car Rally Championship. Implementation of an electronic vehicle speed control system. Models with the Twin Cam Escort design continued to win worldwide in 1969 and 1970.
The Western European model Ford Taunus / Cortina was very common in the 1970s and 1980s. The production of the station wagon (Kombi) Ford Taunus / Cortina family began back in 1970 (in Germany, models called Taunus have existed since the 63rd). The car was produced in almost all of the then European Ford plants, and the name Cortina was given to the English version with "right-hand drive". In January 1976, the second-generation Taunus/Cortina model, substantially redesigned, went into production.
Since 1976, with the start of production of Ford Econoline E-series hooded cargo-passenger models new generation began to use elements of the chassis, engines and transmissions, similar to SUVs and pickups of the F series. In 1992, a new range of comfortable 7-, 8-, 12- and 15-seat all-metal minibuses and four-door vans with a body was introduced to the market.
The Fiesta family has existed for over 20 years - the first generation appeared in 1976. The life path of models current generation, which began at the Geneva Motor Show-89, is nearing sunset. For 11 years, the Fiesta family has undergone a serious restyling twice (in 1995 and 1999), thanks to which it remains quite modern to this day.
Crown Victoria is one of the most popular models in the USA (in the police, taxi, rental, in the secondary market). Manufacturing in Canada. The debut of the model took place in 1978. The new generation of the car was released in December 1990. Appearance update - 1998.
The 1980 Bgonco full-size station wagon was an all-wheel drive pickup truck with a shortened base. The cross-country ability turned out to be quite high, so the model remained popular for a long time (in particular, in Alaska), even after the appearance of more modern models. In the first half of the 1990s, Vgopso became one of the leaders in the Russian market among used cars of this type. In 1990, the Vgopso models were replaced by the more practical Ford Explorer five-door station wagons.
Ford Escort is produced in the US and Europe, as well as in Argentina in three body styles: a five-seat sedan, a five-door station wagon and a ZX2 coupe. A generation of front-wheel drive European Ford Escort (Mod. 80) with a transverse engine was introduced in August 1980. Production of the American Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx continued until the summer of 1990. They were replaced by models developed on the platform of the Japanese Mazda 323. In January 1995, the design of the car was improved, a 4x4 version with a 1.6 liter engine appeared (in 1997, the production of the 4x4 model was discontinued). In 1998, a convertible was introduced.
In September 1982, models of the rear-wheel drive Sierra family with a five-door hatchback and station wagon (Kombi) appeared on sale, and the start of production of a three-door all-wheel drive model (XR4x4) with a 2.8-liter V6 engine was postponed until September 1983.
In November 1986, the launch of the 4x4 version of the Ford Scorpio. At the very end of 1991, the presentation of the roomy station wagon Scorpio Turnir took place. In the summer of 1998, the production of Scorpio was stopped, and the European branch of Ford decided to make the Mondeo model the flagship of the company.
Since the mid-1980s, Taurus has been produced. This model was named Car of the Year 1986, and in 1987 it became a bestseller in America. Sleek, futuristic-looking cars with the pretty names Taurus and Sable were a major milestone on the transition path. Ford to the production of a new generation of cars of the 80s - economical (in full compliance with the standards established by Congress), high-tech and aesthetically perfect.
In the same year, the purchase of a 75% stake in Aston Martin-Lagonda took place.
The purchase of the Jaguar company in 1990 further increases the range of Ford models, which in terms of comfort are in no way reminiscent of the “tin Lizzie”, and a year later for release multi-purpose vehicle Ford Galaxy established a joint venture with the German Volkswagen Corporation.
The company is open to innovation and change; it is interesting that Ford Motor, the pioneer in the introduction of the assembly line, was the first among large corporations to abandon it, since modern workers are more productive in doing work in which there is an element of independent creativity.
The Ford Explorer, which debuted in January 1990, is between the competing Blazer and Tahoe models in size and has been the best-selling SUV in the North American market for many years (about 400,000 a year). The debut of the new generation Explorer in 2001 model year.
In 1993, the model was released Ford Mondeo which immediately set new safety standards in its class. The very next year, this car was recognized as the Car of the Year in Europe and became a favorite among buyers. For 1994, the Windstar minibus was also new. In the same year, the purchase of the remaining shares of Aston Martin-Lagonda took place.
Ford Windstar was first shown in January 1994. In 1998, the model was restyled. Produced in Canada.
The first show of the Ford EUROPE Galaxy took place in February 1995 in Geneva. At the Geneva Motor Show 2000, a modernized model with an updated design was presented.
In 1996, the 250 millionth car rolled off the assembly line of the company. The implementation of the Ka model has begun.
Ford EUROPE Puma, a small sports coupe based on Ford Fiesta, was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1997.
FORD Focus, for a long tradition bearing the name of Turnier. The European premiere of the hatchback took place in early 1998 in Geneva.
In 1998, Ford Motor Company becomes the 2nd largest car and truck manufacturer in the world in terms of total.
In 2000, an international jury of 126 automotive journalists, summing up the results of the unprecedented competition "Car of the Century" ("Car of the Century"), chose the legendary Ford T. Tin Lizzie ("Tin Lizzie") became the "Machine of all times and peoples" car, the assembly of which was established on the assembly line on a massive scale. New method made it possible to start large-scale production of machines, improve their quality and sharply reduce the cost. It was the conveyor assembly that made the car a means of transportation accessible to everyone. And the first in a series of truly serial cars was the Ford model.
The Ford Escape compact SUV was first shown as a prototype in January 2000 in Detroit. The development was carried out jointly with Mazda. Car production is carried out at a plant in Kansas City.
Ford EUROPE Maverick, a compact four-wheel drive SUV, the European analogue of the Ford Escape. Since 2000, it has been produced jointly with Mazda on the basis of the Mazda Tribute. New Ford Maverick combines the characteristics of an SUV and a road car.
2001 - the company presents a fundamentally new Ford Mondeo model. Its appearance can be considered a revolutionary event. This car, developed by the European division of Ford Motor Company, was created on the basis of fundamentally new design technologies. The essence of this technical revolution- in a powerful software product called SZR, which is a complex of computer design systems, computer-aided design and an extensive information database.
Today Ford Motor Company has its own production, assembly and shopping centers in 30 countries of the world. The company produces millions of cars, trucks and tractors every year and is the world's number one automotive sales leader outside of North America. Ford Motor Company sells over 70 various models cars around the world, produced under the brands Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Aston Martin. The company also has a stake in Mazda motor corporation and Kia Motors n.Corporatio
In the "big three" of the American automobile business, Ford Motor occupies an honorable second place in terms of sales.
The main production of which is located in America. It produces not only passenger cars (Mercury, Ford, Lincoln), but also trucks, and diverse agricultural equipment.
The history of Ford is unequivocally connected with its discoverer, director and simply brilliant man Henry Ford.
The stage of the company's birth from 1900 to 1920
The location of the company is a small factory specializing in the production of carriages. One of the first significant achievements of Henry Ford is a sidecar for carrying passengers, called "Model A". Her work was carried out at the expense, the power of which was eight Horse power.
The car was considered the most perfect of all present on the market. The ease of its control attracted even the most demanding gentlemen. For the next five years, Henry Ford was engaged in a constant increase in the production of this type of transport. This served as a significant impetus. Wheelchair models are constantly being upgraded and improved. However, many of them have not gone beyond the experimental level.
Henry Ford's company made a huge breakthrough in 1911. The newly created by the brilliant designer car "Iron Lizzy" became available to a huge number of the population. The second name of the car is "Model T". In the auto industry, such a modification enjoyed a special and. The price component for the "Model T" fluctuated within two hundred and sixty dollars. Approximately 11,000 pieces of equipment were sold during the year.
Mass production of cars begins precisely after the appearance of the Iron Lizzy on the car market, and the demand for personal vehicles began to gain incredible momentum.
In parallel with the production of a well-known model, some are being developed. Among them are ambulances, pickup trucks, small buses and vehicles for the transport of goods.
In order to meet significant consumer demand, Henry Ford for the first time switched to conveyor production. At the same time, the work of each participant in the process has a narrow focus, forces are not scattered to perform several phases of the process at once. The moving conveyor has literally revolutionized the automotive industry..
Second stage of development from 1920 to 1940
The rhythm of people's lives was constantly increasing, as was the production capacity of the company. Developers worked day and night on new inventions that would meet all the requirements of the population.
1932 was marked by the release of a monolithic eight-cylinder V-shaped power unit. The Ford company became a pioneer in the creation of such equipment. with such an engine have long been a priority for a huge number of Americans.
On the video - the history of the Ford brand:
Two years later, the modified power unit appeared on many trucks.
In the same period, buyers begin to think about the safety of the car. This question becomes relevant for Henry Ford. The company's factories begin to produce safety glasses. The risks of harm to the human body are constantly minimised. A large part of the company's policy is based on ensuring safety for both the driver and passengers.
People's love for the Ford brand is growing exorbitantly. Cars occupy their cell in America, as well as in Russia and Europe. are considered truly popular.
The period from the forties to the sixties
In the early forties, the company put all its strength and power into the creation of specialized military equipment. Production civilian vehicles was temporarily suspended.
During the period of hostilities, the Ford plant produced 57,000 aircraft engines, 86,000 B-24 Liberator bombers, and 250,000 tanks.
In 1945, Henry Ford, after long and fruitful years, retires. He transfers all his rights to his grandson Henry Ford Jr. In 1947, the founder famous company dies on his own estate. At that time he was 83 years old.
However, the company under the leadership of the grandson is still thriving. It was introduced in 1949 at the New York Auto Show. She had a number of features:
- independent front suspension;
- smooth side panels;
- rear side windows that can be opened.
The standard of the future automotive design was the integration of wings and bodywork. The sale of these cars was a huge breakthrough in the life of the company. The volume of units sold exceeded .
The company's profits began to rise at an accelerated pace. Accordingly, production capacities began to expand: new factories, laboratories, test sites appear.
The company is taking root in the financial business, studying the features of insurance. Expands its activities in the fields of electronics and space technology. To date, the shareholders of Ford Corporation are 700 thousand people..
Period from 1960 to 1980
The main direction of the corporation in the sixties was youth. Production is dominated by affordable sports cars with modern and creative designs.
Period since 1980
During this period, the competitiveness of other manufacturers increases significantly. In order to stay afloat, the corporation begins to practice the introduction of the latest technologies not only in cars, but also in other industrial areas.
The main goal of designers is to create a world leader for the executive class. The middle price segment also did not go unnoticed.
To demonstrate all its capabilities, Ford produces two models: the Mercury Sable and the Ford Taurus. Every detail in the cars is absolutely perfect. As a result, the Taurus became the 1986 car of the year. In the late eighties, both cars underwent crushing. All of America was kneeling before them.
The subsequent innovative models were the Ford Mondeo and the globally restyled Mustang. Galaxy minivans and F-series pickups appeared in Europe.
The main credo of the company is: "While reducing production costs, strive for continuous improvement of our products."
In our time, the Ford brand has earned recognition around the world. More than seventy are produced by factories. Among them are the most famous: Lincoln, Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin.
The Ford company, in addition to its own numerous productions, has a significant number of shares in the Kia Motors Corporation and Mazda Motor Corporation.
The leaders of the American company do not stop there and are constantly working to improve their capabilities.
Brief information about the company:
Brand name: FORD (Ford Motor Company)
A country: USA (Michigan, Detroit)
Specialization: car manufacturing
Legend has it that for the first time the idea of creating a car, or rather a vehicle that does not require the use of animal power, came up with Henry Ford, the son of an Irish immigrant. It was in 1872 and this event is connected with a fall from a horse and a severe bruise of the future famous automaker. This is where it started Ford history.
The date of birth of the Ford company was June 16, 1903, when G. Ford and eleven of his friends collected a fabulous sum of twenty thousand dollars for those times and applied for the organization of a new auto-industrial enterprise. So, in the American state of Michigan, the very famous automobile company Ford Motor Company appeared in the future. It was originally housed in a small van factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit.
First vehicle, which was created at the Ford plant, was equipped with an 8 horsepower engine and was called the "gasoline sidecar". Officially, she received the name "Model A" and was positioned on automotive market as "the most perfect car that even a 15-year-old child is able to drive." For the next five years, Henry Ford directed the development of the plant and created the production program. During this period, 19 car models were developed - from Model "A" to Model "S". True, not all developments managed to reach the buyer.
The most important year in the life of Henry Ford and his automobile offspring was 1908. It was then that the famous automaker was able to fulfill his old dream. This event was the release of Model T - "Tin Lizzy" (Tin Lizzy). This innovative car went on to become the most famous car in the history of the auto industry.
The use of the latest production technology has reduced the price of the car to $ 260! This was the reason that in the first year of sales it was possible to sell about 11,000 units. From that moment on, the car began to be spoken of as a necessary and affordable means of transportation. The mass production of automobiles began and, in fact, a new era in the automotive industry.
The main reason that made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of a car and dramatically increase labor productivity was the introduction of the conveyor production of cars invented by Ford. Thanks to this innovation, every 10 seconds a FORD new car- Model "T".
But competitors did not sleep, and further capacity building and the introduction of the latest developments in the automotive industry were required. The Ford company was constantly in search of new ideas and in April 1932 the latest V-shaped 8-cylinder engine was presented to the public, which none of the competitors could boast of.
Cars equipped with this engine have long taken a leading position in the American market. And since 1934, the first Ford trucks appeared on agricultural farms and on the streets of American cities.
But not only technology occupied the mind of Henry Ford. One of the very first among auto manufacturers, he begins to take care of the safety of the driver and passenger. It was Ford's that was first supplied with "safe" glass. Since then, the company has been constantly working to reduce the risk to human life and increase the safety of the driver and passenger. This was elevated to the rank of company policy and is still supported.
By this time, the Ford brand is becoming world famous and popular. A huge network of factories and shops has been built throughout America. Branches are opened in Europe and Russia. There are already thousands of Ford cars on sale and it is becoming truly popular.
In 1942, the production of civilian vehicles was stopped and the main efforts of the company are directed to military needs. Ford produces tanks, planes, military vehicles.
On September 24, 1945, Henry Ford passes the management of the company to his grandson, Henry Ford 2. And just two years later, in April 1947, at the age of 83, the founder of the most famous automobile company dies at his Fea Lane estate. The grandson does an excellent job of managing the company and worthily continues the work of his illustrious grandfather. In June 1948, a new model of the Ford car was presented at the New York Show, which had a number of innovative solutions - independent front suspension, smooth side panels and opening rear side windows. The integration of the body and wings has become the most progressive solution and has established new standard automotive design.
In 1949, Ford is selling more cars than ever since 1929. Sales volume is about one million cars. Huge profits of the company allowed it to actively develop production. Construction of new production and assembly plants, engineering - research laboratories, test sites. New types of activities are being developed. And in January 1956 year Ford Motor Company becomes an open joint stock company. To date, the company has about 700,000 shareholders.
In the 60s, Ford chose young people as the target group of buyers. In this regard, it was necessary to reorient production to the production of inexpensive sports cars. Following new trends and being a direct pattern of the company's new policy in 1964, the well-known (subsequently) Mustang car first appeared. hallmark The newcomer was the use of a fundamentally new engine, which combined two units: a drive axle and a transmission. In addition, the fashionably and stylishly designed interior of the model literally fell in love with buyers in this car. The success spoke for itself - in just 100 days, 100,000 Mustangs were sold. The company's profit has reached incredible, few people predicted heights.
On this wave of success, the company continues to develop and introduce new original designs for other models. At the same time, without forgetting about the safety of the driver and passengers. Thanks to this, Ford became the first company to install disc front brakes on its production cars in 1970.
Until now, the company adheres to a long-chosen policy aimed at improving cars, their efficiency and safety. Few people now do not recognize the logo of this company. The popularity of these cars in the world is great. And this success is natural, since the company first of all cares about those who use its cars.
In 1872, the son of an Irish immigrant fell off his horse while working on his father's farm near Dearborn, Michigan, USA. It was on this day that he decided to create a vehicle that would not cause suffering and would be more reliable than vehicles using animal power. That bad rider was Henry Ford.
Subsequently, Henry and his eleven enthusiastic friends raised a hefty sum of $28,000 and on June 16, 1903, filed an application to organize an industrial enterprise in the state of Michigan.
Ford Motor Company began its production activities, and as a result, a "gasoline sidecar" driven by an 8 hp engine was created, called "Model A".
Ten years after that, Ford was known around the world as a genius who gave the world the Ford T a car accessible to everyone. Ford Motor Company was the first to introduce the conveyor. Thanks to this technical novelty Henry Ford reduced the cost of the Tin Lizzy from $850 to $290.
What is the secret of Ford Motor Company's hundred years of success? When creating the company, Henry Ford dreamed of a car whose cost would not exceed the annual salary of those ordinary workers who assembled cars at a factory in Detroit.
Ford has gone through many changes in its 100 years of history. However, the belief that people should have accessible, reliable and modern cars, remained unchanged.
Henry Ford was born in Springfield, Michigan on July 30, 1863. He was the eldest of six children of William and Mary Ford (William; Mary Ford), who owned a prosperous farm. Henry spent his childhood on his parents' farm, where he helped his family and attended a regular rural school.
At the age of 12, Henry equipped a small workshop, where he enthusiastically spent all his free time. It was there that a few years later he designed his first steam engine.
In 1879, Henry Ford moved to Detroit, where he got a job as an assistant machinist. Three years later, Ford moved to Dearborn and for five years was engaged in the design and repair of steam engines, moonlighting from time to time at a factory in Detroit. In 1888 he married Clara Jane Bryant and soon took over as manager of a sawmill.
In 1891, Ford became an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company, and two years later was appointed the company's chief engineer. A decent salary and a sufficient amount of free time allowed Ford to devote more time to engine development. internal combustion.
Ford assembled the first internal combustion engine in the kitchen of his home. Soon he decided to put the engine on a frame with four bicycle wheels. So in 1896, the ATV appeared - a vehicle that became the first Ford car.
After leaving the Edison Illuminating Company in 1899, Henry Ford founded own firm Detroit Automobile. Despite the fact that the company went bankrupt a year later, Ford managed to assemble several racing cars. Ford himself took part in motor racing and in October 1901 managed to defeat the American champion Alexander Winton (Alexander Winton).
The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903. Its founders were twelve businessmen from Michigan, led by Henry Ford, who held a 25.5% stake in the company and served as vice president and chief engineer of the company.
Under car factory converted a former van factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit. Brigades, consisting of two or three workers, under the direct supervision of Ford, assembled cars from spare parts that were made to order by other enterprises.
The company's first car was sold on July 23, 1903. Ford's first creation was a "gasoline sidecar" powered by an 8 hp engine, called the Model A. The car was described as "the most advanced car on the market, which even a 15-year-old boy can drive." In 1906, Henry Ford became the company's president and principal owner.
The first oval Ford logo appeared in 1907 thanks to the first British representatives of the company Perry (Perry), Thornton (Thornton) and Schreiber (Schreiber). As part of an advertising campaign, it was presented as a "stamp of the highest standard", designed to symbolize reliability and economy.
For the next five years, Henry Ford directed the overall development and production program. During this time, 19 letters of the alphabet were used from Model A to Model S. Some of these models remained at the experimental level, not reaching the end user.
In 1908, Henry Ford made his dream come true with the Model T. The Tin Lizzy, as the Americans affectionately called it, became the most famous car in the history of the auto industry.
Its base price was $ 260, and within just one year, about 11 thousand of these machines were sold. It was the appearance of the Model T that marked the beginning of a new era in the development personal transport.
Ford's car was easy to drive, did not require complex maintenance and could even drive on rural roads.
From that moment on, the car became the subject of mass production, the demand for which is constantly growing.
At the same time, on the basis of the Model T, cars are being created for various services: pickups, cars for delivering small loads, ambulances, vans and small buses.
To meet the growing needs of customers, as well as increase labor productivity, Ford is introducing assembly line production in its factories for the first time, in which each worker performs one operation while remaining in one place. As a result of the innovation, another Model T rolled off the assembly line every 10 seconds, and the moving conveyor became a new, significant stage in the industrial revolution.
In 1919, Henry Ford and his son Edsel (Adsel Ford) bought the company's shares from other shareholders for $105,568,858 and became the sole owners of the company. In the same year, Edsel inherited from his father the presidency of the company, which he held until his death in 1943. After the sudden death of his son Henry Ford again had to stand at the helm of the company.
The Model A, released in 1927, was the first Ford car to feature an oval emblem on the grille. Until the very end of the 50s, most Ford cars were produced with the well-known dark blue badge these days. Although the oval badge was approved as the official emblem of Ford, it was not put on cars until the mid-70s.
The fast pace of life constantly required capacity building and implementation unique technologies. Developing with the rhythm of the times, Ford Motor Company was ready to show off its latest achievements.
On April 1, 1932, the company introduced the V-shaped 8-cylinder engine to the public. Ford was the first company to produce a monolithic 8-cylinder block. Cars with such an engine became the favorites of practical Americans for a long time.
Already in 1934, Ford trucks equipped with a completely modified engine appeared on rural farms and on the streets of large cities.
At this time, the problem of car safety is becoming more and more urgent. Henry Ford does not ignore this topic. For the first time, safety glasses are being used at its factories, constant work is underway to reduce the risk to human life caring for a person has always been and remains the most important aspect general company policy. Car enthusiasts and ordinary citizens pay generously for such care with their commitment and love for Ford.
The famous brand is gaining popularity not only in America, but throughout the world. During this period, Ford has a huge network of factories and stores throughout America, opens branches in Europe and Russia. Thousands of cars find their owners all over the world. The brand becomes truly popular.
In September 1945, Henry Ford transferred powers to his eldest grandson, Henry Ford II. In May 1946, Henry Ford Sr. was awarded an honorary award for services to the auto industry, and at the end of that year, the American Petroleum Institute (American Petroleum Institute) presented him gold medal for services to society.
Henry Ford died at the age of 83 at his home in Dearborn on April 7, 1947. Thus, an entire era in the history of the Ford Motor Company ended, which, despite the death of its founder, continued to develop actively.
But the grandson continues the work of his grandfather with dignity. On June 8, 1948, the new 1949 Ford model was unveiled at the New York Show. Its main features are smooth side panels, independent front suspension and opening rear side windows.
The integration of the body and fenders was a novelty that set the standard for automotive design. In 1949, Ford sold about a million of these cars, reaching the highest sales since 1929.
The company's profits are also growing at a tremendous rate. This led to an increase in production facilities: new production and assembly plants, testing grounds, engineering and research laboratories.
New activities are being developed: financial business Ford Motor Company, insurance American Road Insurance Company, automatic replacement of parts Ford Parts and Service Division, electronics, computers, space technology and much more.
And finally, in January 1956, Ford Motor Company became a public company. The company currently has about 700,000 shareholders.
The focus of attention in the 60s is the youth. In keeping with public sentiment, Ford is rapidly reorienting its production to building low-cost sports cars aimed at a younger consumer.
It was then, in 1964, that the Mustang was presented to the public for the first time. The most important feature novelty was the use of a new engine, which combined two units transmission and drive axle. It was favorably distinguished by its appearance an original combination of all modern design trends of the 50-60s.
Such a keen interest, which this car caused, was not observed since the Model A. In the first hundred days, one hundred thousand four-seater Mustangs were sold. The company's profits exceeded all expected results.
Encouraged by the success, Ford continues to develop original design, while using the most innovative trends and developments in the automotive industry. Their work was embodied in models like the Corina and the Transit van.
But not only profit worried employees and ford manual motor company. The fight for safety continues.
So, in 1970, Ford becomes the first serial manufacturer to introduce front disc brakes.
Since 1976, the legendary oval Ford emblem with a blue background and silver letters has been placed on absolutely all cars of the company, so that Ford products can be easily recognized anywhere in the world.
The conditions of fierce competition, especially aggravated during this period, encourage Ford specialists to introduce new technologies in other areas Special attention given to fuel economy. The goal of the designers is to create a world-class leader in the middle and executive segments of the market. The result was the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sebale.
It should be noted that Taurus was created as a car, every detail of which is brought to perfection. Efforts paid off Taurus was recognized as the car of 1986, and a year later became a bestseller in America.
Ford's next innovations were the Mondeo, as well as a modified Mustang. 1994 premieres also included the Ford Espire and the Windstar minibus.
Then North America saw improved Ford Taurus and Mercury Tracer, showing the first Big changes in the design of cars that hit the market in the late 80s. In Europe, a modified F-series pickup, the new Fiesta and Galaxy minivans were also introduced.
The main goal of the company is the constant improvement of its products while reducing production costs. The results were world cars.
Currently, over 70 different models of cars are sold worldwide, produced under the brands Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Aston Martin. Ford also has a stake in companies Mazda Motor Corporation and Kia Motors Corporation.
On July 9, 2002, a new Ford Motor Company plant with a full production cycle was officially opened in the city of Vsevolzhsk, Leningrad Region.
