The first cars from Ford Motor Company, History of Ford Cars
The Ford Motor Company was formed in the year 1903 and the Company's first car was called the Ford Model 'A'. The first models of Ford mass produced cars had just one colour 'Black'. Ford Motors was the first to introduce the concept of an assembly line in manufacturing practice in 1913. This innovation of Ford Motors reduced the time to assemble and make the Ford Model 'T' being produced then from 12.5 hours to just 1.5 hours. This quick production of cars considerably reduced the labour and other costs per car and helped Ford to sell even more cars.
Below is a rare picture of one of the first Ford cars, the Ford model A.
In 1914 Ford doubled the salary of its factory workers to $5 per day and reduced the working hours of his factory workers from 9 to 8 hours per day. The story goes that the day after the "$ 5- day" was announced, more than 10,000 people queued and stood in line outside the Ford factory hoping to get employed there.
The increased pay and the shorter working hours actually helped Ford to produce more cars at even cheaper prices than before. With higher pay at Ford's factory, other companies were forced to raise their wages. With increased wages the work force could now afford to buy Ford cars. So demand for Ford cars increased. With shorter 8 hour work shift, Ford ran 3 shifts per day working 24 hours round the clock producing more cars at cheaper prices. This chain reaction continued to build up the volumes of Ford cars being sold.
Today Ford Motors is the fifth largest car maker in the world. Ford Motor Company's headquarters is in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit in Michigan. The main brands of Ford Motor Company are the 'Ford' and 'Lincoln' Brands. Ford used to own the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Company in the UK. Ford sold off the JLR group when they were not selling enough of their cars and was in great financial problems. Our Tata Motors bought out the JLR group from Ford, has turned it arround, and now JLR is a very profitable Company with their cars in great demand all over the world. Ford also used to own Volvo in Sweden but sold that to a Chinese Group.
For a complete history of Ford Motor Company visit the Ford Motors official History website
History of Ford in India
Ford India Private Limited has been in India for a long time from 1926, but had to stop operations in 1954 due to the Indian Government policies. When the Indian Government liberalised the Car market in India, Ford came back to India in October 1995. They first had a joint venture with Mahindra as Mahindra Ford India Limited (MFIL) which was a a 50-50 joint venture. In 1998 Ford increased its share to 72% in March 1998 and renamed the company Ford India Private Limited. Now Ford India Pvt. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company in India with its headquarters in Chengalpattu near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Ford India has its main production facilities in Maraimalai Nagar about 50 km from Chennai. The Maraimalai Ford Factory can produce unto 200,000 cars. Ford India is now the sixth largest car manufacturer in India after Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Hyundai, Mahindra and Chevrolet.
Recently Ford inaugurated its new engine and car manufacturing factory in Sanand, Gujarat. Ford Motor's Chief Executive, Mark Fields was there at the inauguration ceremony and said that Ford's vision is to make India its export hub for small cars and small engines. They are targeting to triple exports from India over the next five years. Ford India now exports 77,000 vehicles a year.