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FORD

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did. Beginning with 1903's Model A, the Michigan-based company gradually rolled out a line-up of conservatively priced vehicles that were typically named using the letters of the alphabet. Perhaps the best-known Ford of this series is the Model T of 1908-1927, which was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line which used one person do one specific job like fitting a wheel, the car then simply moved on to the next person on a conveyer.

The post-war era saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering performance along with luxury features like power windows. Ford kept its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was a great success on the general market. However Ford’s most legendary release came with the launch of the sporty Ford Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sleek styling.

The following decades for Ford were tough because of strict government restrictions about emissions and power.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the success of its Explorer midsize SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it successfully bought Land Rover.

But the new millennium has seen a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit have taken their toll. The brand has sold off Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover to cut losses from the Ford brand and has changed its distribution and business plan. While Volvo and Mazda remain in the fold, Ford Motor Company is attempting to claw its way back in the domestic market with better products and marketing. The future is uncertain, but if past business cycles are any indication, it seems as though ford will recover.