Ford Chronology
1896: Henry Ford builds his first vehicle – the Quadricycle – on a buggy frame with 4 bicycle wheels.
1901: Henry Ford wins high-profile car race in Grosse Pointe, Mi.
1903: Ford Motor Company incorporated with 11 original investors. The original Model A "Fordmobile" is introduced - 1,708 cars are produced.
1904: Henry Ford teams up with Harvey Firestone of Firestone Tires
1906: Ford becomes the top selling brand in the US, with 8,729 cars produced.
1908: Model T is introduced. 15 million are produced through 1927.
1911: Ford opens first factory outside North America – in Manchester, England.
1913: The moving Assembly line is introduced at Highland Park assembly plant, making Model T production 8 times faster.
1914: Ford introduces $5 workday minimum wage – double the existing rate.
1918: Construction of the Rouge assembly complex begins.
1919: Edsel Ford succeeds Henry as Company President.
1921: Ford production exceeds 1 million cars per year, nearly 10 times more than Chevrolet - the next biggest selling brand.
1922: Ford purchases Lincoln Motor Company for US $8 million.
1925: Ford introduces Ford Tri-Motor airplane for airline services
1926: Ford Australia is founded in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
1927: Model T production ends, Ford introduces the next generation Model A, from the Rouge complex.
1929: Ford regains production crown, with production peaking at 1.5 million cars
1931: Ford and Chevy brands begin to alternate as US production leaders, in battle for automobile sales during the Great Depression.
1932: Ford introduces the one-piece cast V8 block.
1936: Lincoln Zephyr is introduced.
1938: The German consul at Cleveland gave Henry Ford the award of the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the highest medal that Nazi Germany could bestow on a foreigner
1939: Mercury division is formed to fill the gap between economical Fords and luxury Lincolns. Operated as its own division at Ford until 1945.
1941: The Lincoln Continental is introduced. Ford begins building general purpose "jeep" for the military. First labor agreement with UAW-CIO covers North American employees.
1942: Production of civilian vehicles halted, diverting factory capacity to producing B-24 Liberator bombers, tanks, and other products for the war effort.
1943: Edsel Ford dies of cancer at the age of 49, Henry Ford resumes presidency.
1945: Henry Ford II becomes president.
1945: Lincoln and Mercury are combined into a single division.
1946: The Whiz Kids, former US Army Air Force officers, are hired to revitalize the company. Automobile production resumes.
1947: Henry Ford dies of cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 83, Henry Ford II becomes new chairman.
1948: F-1 Truck introduced. Lincoln Continental is introduced.
1949: The '49 Ford introduces all-new post-war era cars. The "Woody" station wagon is introduced.
1954: Thunderbird introduced as a personal luxury car with a V8. Ford begins crash testing, and opens Arizona Proving Grounds.
1956: $10,000 Lincoln Continental Mark II introduced. Ford goes public with common stock shares.
1957: Ford launches the Edsel brand of automobiles in the fall of 1957 as 1958 models. Ford is top selling brand, with 1.68 million automobiles produced.
1959: Ford Credit corporation formed to provide automotive financing. Ford withdraws the 1960 model Edsels from the market in November 1959.
1960: Ford Galaxie and Ford Falcon introduced.
1960: Robert Mcnamara is appointed President of Ford by Chairman Henry Ford II.
1960: Ford President Robert McNamara appointed Secretary of Defense by President elect John F. Kennedy.
1964: Ford Mustang and Ford GT40 introduced.
1965: Ford brand US sales exceed 2 million units.
1967: Ford of Europe is established.
1968: Lincoln Mark Series is introduced as the company's first personal luxury car to compete with the Cadillac Eldorado
1970: Ford establishes Asia Pacific operations.
1973: Ford US brand sales reaches an all time high of 2.35 million vehicles produced.
1976: Retractable seat belts introduced.
1979: Ford acquires 25% stake in Mazda.
1981: The Lincoln Town Car is introduced as the company's top-of-the-line model. Ford Escort is introduced in the US.
1985: Ford Taurus introduced with revolutionary "aero design" styling. Annual revenues reached $53 billion.
1987: Ford acquires Aston Martin Lagonda and Hertz Rent-a-Car.
1989: Ford acquires Jaguar, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata is unveiled.
1990: The Ford Explorer is introduced, turning the rural/recreational SUV into a popular family vehicle.
1993: Ford introduces dual airbags as standard equipment.
1995: Annual revenues reached $137 billion.
1996: Ford certifies all plants in 26 countries to ISO 14001 environmental standards. The Jaguar XJS with optional V12 is discontinued.
1996: Ford increases investment stake in a troubled Mazda Corporation to a controlling interest of 33.4%
1997: Major redesigns of nearly all Ford, Mercury, Lincoln and Jaguar models. Ford introduces its first luxury SUV, the Lincoln Navigator.
1999: Ford purchases Volvo (car division). Bill Ford becomes Chairman of the Board.
1999: Establishes Jaguar Racing Formula One team.
2000: Ford purchases Land Rover from BMW. Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type are introduced. Annual revenues reached $141 billion.
2001: The retro-styled Ford Thunderbird is reintroduced.
2002: The Lincoln Continental is discontinued after a roughly fifty year run, and the Jaguar X-Type is introduced.
2003: Ford Motor Company 100th Anniversary. The Ford GT was released to celebrate this occasion. The Lincoln Navigator is redsigned with all other Lincoln, Jaguar, and Mercury models receiving slight facelifts.
2004: Sells Jaguar Racing to Red Bull GmbH.
2004: The Ford Escape Hybrid, the first gasoline-electric hybrid SUV, is introduced.
2005: The popular Ford Mustang is completely redesigned for the 2005 model year, and includes styling reminiscent of the 1960s models, a new powerplant, and a new platform. Annual revenues reached a new peak of $178 billion.
2005-2006: Ford ends production of the Mercury Sable in 2005, and the Ford Taurus in 2006, after a 20 year run.
2006: Ford announces major restructuring, called The Way Forward, aimed at bringing production capacity and fixed costs into alignment with projected market share.
2006: Bill Ford steps down as CEO and Alan Mulally is elected as his replacement.
2006: Ford buys Rover brand name from BMW.
