Ford Motor Company: Will the Company's Strategic Moves Restore its Competitiveness and Financial Performance?

Marlene M$.$ Reed

Baylor University

report by Road Show on CNET, dated June $5,2019,$ suggested that the Ford Fusion $2020$ model would be the last car Ford would produce. The discontinuation of the Fusion was said to be a part of Ford's shifting strategic focus away from passenger cars toward crossovers and SUVs$-$many with electrified powertrains. $\text{'}$ Observers wondered if Ford could essentially abandon the market for

Rochelle R$.$ Brunson

Baylor University

automobiles as car sales had been its lifeblood si $1908$ when Henry Ford revolutionized passenger tr portation with production of the Model T$.$ Indu analysts also wondered if the American love af with the SUV and trucks would continue if the p

Copyrigh$$ @$2021$ by Marlene M$.$ Reed, Baylor University and Rochell R$.$ Brunson, Baylor University. All rights reserved.

EXHIBIT $1$ History of the Ford Motor Company

$1896-$Henry Ford built the Quadricycle, the forerunner of the automobile.

$1899-$Henry Ford joins a group that founded the Detroit Automobile Company.

$1901-$Henry Ford defeats the top racecar driver of the era in his $26.$ The victory led to Sweepstakes. The victory led tc Ford's second short$-$lived attempt at auto manufacture$-$the Henry Ford Company.

$1903-$The Ford Motor Company Is incorporated with an initial $12$ investors and $1,000$ shares. The company had spen almost all of its $$28,000$ cash investment by the time it sold the first Ford Model A on July $23.$ By October, the compar had turned a profit of $$37,000.$

$1904-$Ford Motor Company of Canada is founded. The plant was built in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Ford' existing facilities. The company was created to sell vehicles not just in Canada but also all across the British Empire.

$1907-$Ford introduces the scripted typeface of its trademark.

$1908-$Ford introduces the Model T$.$ Ford sold $15$ million of this model before ceasing production in May $1927.$ It became the most famous car in the world.

$1913-$Ford introduces the integrative moving assembly line to auto production. This innovation reduced the Mode T$\text{'}$s chassis assembly line from $12\mathrm{.}5$ to $1\mathrm{.}5$ hours and brought about a revolution In manufacturing.

$1914-$Ford institutes the famous $"$$$5$ Day." This wage payment to Ford's employees was double the existing rate for factory workers. The company also reduced the workday from $9$ to $8$ hours. The day after this wage rate was