Ford Expands Into New Markets

Ford: The Beginnings of a Giant

Henry Ford, the original founder of the Ford Motor Company, is still one of the most famous names connected with the car industry today. Born in 1863, Henry Ford lived in an era when motor cars were reserved for the privileged few but his ambition was to create a company which would bring automobiles to the masses.

Founded in 1903 and based in Michigan, Ford sprang into life producing 1750 vehicles in the following two years, priced at $750 each. At this point, traditional methods of assembly were still being used, an inefficient process that couldn’t cope with large volumes. As demand for the relatively inexpensive car rose, Henry Ford invented the very first assembly line used in manufacturing. The result of this was that production rocketed dramatically, coinciding with the release of Fords iconic Model T.

The combination of these factors brought Henry Ford’s ambition to life. Between 1908 and 1927 Ford produced 15 million of the Model T, numbers which would previously have been unthinkable.

Ford Expands Into New Markets

Ford’s success wasn’t to be contained in the US market alone for too long, and in August of 1904, Henry Ford signed a contract with Gordon McGregor, a Canadian entrepreneur. This was the birth of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, a branch of Ford which was to be far more than just a subsidiary. The Ford Motor Company of Canada was in fact, a distinct group with its own shareholders, holding the rights to sell Ford vehicles to all countries within the British Empire. To put this into perspective, Henry Ford only held 13% of the shares in the Canadian company.

The Model C was the first vehicle to be produced in Canada, with the company going on to establish its own subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India.

After World War II, Ford Motor Companies gained a majority share in the Ford Motor Company of Canada and further plants in Canada were opened. Ford continued to be one of the biggest car manufacturers in Canada and by the 1970s was widely considered to be the largest company in the country.

The Evolution of Ford in Canada

Fast forward to the modern day and Ford continues to push the boundaries of their car designs. Despite being closely aligned to the US corporation, Ford in Canada retains its own identity. With a different climate and terrain, Canadian Ford vehicles are at the leading edge of innovation.

Some of the features you might want to look out for in newer Ford models include pedestrian detection, pothole mitigation technology and even driverless vehicles. Not content with being the longest established auto company in Canada, Ford aspires to be at the cutting edge of new motor technology.