Ford's History
Ford Motor Company is the second-oldest surviving American automaker and the only member of the original Big Three to survive the 2008–2009 financial crisis without a government bailout. Founded on June 16, 1903 by Henry Ford and 11 investors with just $28,000 in cash, Ford would go on to become one of the most consequential industrial enterprises in human history.
The company's early breakthrough was the Model N in 1906, which established Ford as a producer of affordable, reliable cars for average Americans — not just the wealthy. But it was the Model T, introduced on October 1, 1908, that changed everything. Priced at $850 at launch (eventually falling to $260 by 1924), the Model T made automobile ownership accessible to working Americans for the first time.
In 1913, Ford introduced the moving assembly line at the Highland Park plant. This wasn't just a manufacturing innovation — it was a civilization-altering event. Production time per vehicle dropped from over 12 hours to 93 minutes. Ford wasn't the first to use assembly-line techniques, but his perfection of the method transformed global manufacturing across every industry.
Ownership Structure
Ford Motor Company is a publicly traded corporation (NYSE: F) but retains a unique dual-class ownership structure that keeps the founding Ford family in control. This structure has defined Ford's corporate identity for over a century.
The Ford family holds Class B shares, which carry 40% of total voting power despite representing roughly 2% of total shares outstanding. This means that while institutional investors like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street hold large economic stakes in Ford, they do not control the company's strategic direction in the same way as at fully public corporations. William Clay Ford Jr. serves as Executive Chairman and has been instrumental in Ford's green energy transformation.
Jim Farley became President and CEO in October 2020 and has overseen Ford's most aggressive pivot to electric vehicles in its history, including the creation of Ford Model e (EV division) and Ford Pro (commercial vehicles). The company's current strategy segments its business to better serve investors and compete with Tesla and other EV startups.
Parent Company
Ford Motor Company is its own parent — an independent publicly traded corporation. It is not a subsidiary of any other automaker or conglomerate. Ford wholly owns the Lincoln brand.
Ford Family Control
The Ford family's dual-class shares give them ~40% voting power. William Clay Ford Jr. (great-grandson of Henry Ford) serves as Executive Chairman. The family's influence means Ford has unusual strategic patience versus pure-public competitors.
Institutional Investors
Major institutional shareholders include The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. Together, institutional investors own approximately 60% of Ford's economic value but hold limited voting power due to the dual-class structure.
Popular Ford Models
Ford's current lineup spans trucks, SUVs, performance cars, and electric vehicles — with the F-Series pickup trucks remaining the undisputed core of the business. Here are Ford's most significant models in 2026.
Reliability Perception
Ford's reliability reputation has improved dramatically since the early 2000s, though the brand still trails the industry's most reliable Japanese and Korean competitors in some studies. The picture is nuanced by model — some Ford vehicles rank as best-in-class, while others have had notable issues.
The F-150's transition to an aluminum body in 2015 was initially met with skepticism but proved highly reliable in practice. The EcoBoost engine family has been broadly successful, though some early-generation twin-turbocharged units had reported issues. Ford's newer Hybrid powertrains have received strong marks.
J.D. Power, Consumer Reports
& owner data (2025–2026)
Market Position
Ford occupies a powerful and distinctive position in the US auto market: the undisputed king of trucks and a meaningful EV challenger. The company's restructuring under CEO Jim Farley has aggressively deemphasized low-margin sedans in favor of trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles — the segments where Ford's brand strength is deepest.
Trucks: #1 In America
The F-Series has been America's best-selling vehicle for 47 consecutive years. The F-150, Super Duty, and Maverick collectively generate more revenue for Ford than all of GM's car brands combined. Ford's truck dominance is its most valuable strategic asset.
EV Strategy: Ford Model e
Ford reorganized into Ford Model e (EVs), Ford Blue (gas/hybrid), and Ford Pro (commercial). The Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning have established Ford as the #2 EV brand in the US behind Tesla. Profitability of the EV segment remains a challenge.
Global Footprint
Ford operates in over 100 countries with significant manufacturing in the US, Mexico, Germany, UK, China, and India. The Lincoln brand serves primarily the American and Chinese luxury markets. Ford Europe focuses on commercial vans and smaller cars.
Performance & Heritage
Ford Performance (Mustang Dark Horse, GT, Shelby partnership) keeps the brand's motorsport DNA alive. Ford's racing legacy — Le Mans, NASCAR, IndyCar, WRC, Baja — gives it an emotional authenticity few brands can match.
Ford FAQs
Yes, absolutely. Ford Motor Company is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan and is incorporated in Delaware. It has been led by the Ford family since its founding in 1903. While Ford manufactures vehicles globally and sells in over 100 countries, it is unambiguously an American company with deep Michigan roots. The Ford family retains 40% voting control through dual-class shares.
"Ford" is simply the surname of Henry Ford, the company's founder. It is not an acronym. The "Fix Or Repair Daily" (or "Found On Road Dead") backronym is a longstanding joke among car enthusiasts — it predates the internet and was popular in the 1970s-80s when American cars had legitimate quality issues. It is not based on any official designation and does not accurately reflect modern Ford vehicles. By most contemporary reliability metrics, Ford sits above the industry average.
Ford Motor Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol F. It is one of the simplest and most recognizable tickers on Wall Street. Ford is included in several major indices including the S&P 500. Lincoln, Ford's luxury brand, does not have a separate public listing — it is a wholly owned division of Ford Motor Company.
Ford is publicly traded, meaning it is owned by its shareholders. The largest single stakeholder group is institutional investors (Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street own the largest economic positions). However, the Ford family controls the company through a dual-class share structure — they hold roughly 2% of shares but ~40% of voting power. William Clay Ford Jr. serves as Executive Chairman. No other automaker or conglomerate owns Ford.
The original Ford Model T is the best-selling Ford of all time globally, with over 15 million units sold between 1908 and 1927. In modern times, the F-Series pickup trucks have been Ford's most dominant product — they've been America's best-selling vehicle for 47 consecutive years (1977–2025). The F-150 alone typically sells over 700,000 units per year in the United States.
Yes — Ford has made a massive commitment to electric vehicles. The company reorganized into Ford Model e (EVs), Ford Blue (internal combustion), and Ford Pro (commercial) divisions. Current EV models include the Mustang Mach-E crossover SUV and the F-150 Lightning pickup. Ford has committed tens of billions in EV investment. As of 2025, Ford is the second-largest EV seller in the US behind Tesla.