| Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company, | | | | Henry Ford died in 1947 and by that time Ford was a |
| currently the third largest carmaker in the world, with | | | | reputed world carmaker. It is said that over seven |
| the Dodge Brothers in 1903. While Henry Ford has | | | | million people paid their final respects at his funeral. |
| been building motor vehicles before this, 1903 is the | | | | Post WWII Ford was a company that developed and |
| year when he, supported by twelve investors, | | | | evolved very fast. Many famous models were |
| established the famous company. | | | | produced in the 1950s and the 1960s, such as the |
| Ford’s first cars were named chronologically with | | | | Thunderbird (1955), the F-1 truck (1948) and the |
| letters: the model A was introduced in 1903 for | | | | Mustang (1964). Ford also continued to develop and |
| example. In 1904 Ford introduced the world famous T | | | | implement the latest technologies in their cars and they |
| Model that was to become a symbol of the American | | | | had become one of the most important carmakers in |
| motorcar industry. | | | | the world during the Cold War. |
| In 1907 Ford launched its current Blue Oval Trademark | | | | During that time Ford Motor Company continued to |
| but it wasn’t until 1928 that a Model A had the first | | | | expand overseas, looking for other possible |
| version of the familiar Ford script. | | | | investments. In 1979 they bought a quarter of the |
| Henry Ford had witnessed a huge success with his | | | | Japanese carmaker Mazda, in 1987 Ford bought Aston |
| vehicles especially with the T Model and by the early | | | | Martin and in 1989 Ford acquired Jaguar. In 1999 Ford |
| 1910’s he expanded overseas, with production | | | | acquired Volvo and Land Rover in 2000. |
| facilities in France, Denmark and Germany, England | | | | In 2003 Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th |
| and Austria. | | | | birthday and it introduced a series of special |
| When the First World War started, Ford was | | | | commemorative cars, such as the new Ford Mustang. |
| producing half of the cars being sold in the US and | | | | In the recent years Ford has faced some financial |
| almost half of all cars being produced in England. | | | | problems (the company reported losses of over $12 |
| During the war, Ford produced many of its cars for | | | | billion for the 2006 fiscal year) that led to the selling of |
| the military. | | | | some of the brands from the Ford group: Aston Martin, |
| In 1922, Ford acquired Lincoln Motor Company in the | | | | Jaguar and Land Rover. |
| desire of expanding its market share as Ford wanted | | | | As gas prices in the United States continue to soar |
| to enter the luxurious car market. | | | | the Ford Motor Company will need to keep pace with |
| By 1941, Ford owned the largest assembly plant in the | | | | current market trends and foreign manufacturers |
| world and during the World War II Ford produced not | | | | know for smaller cars and better fuel economy to |
| only your standard military vehicles, but also B-24 | | | | stay a viable and profitable business. |
| Liberator bombers and tanks. | | | | |