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Ford's 100th Anniversary Is Coming

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#1 ·
DEARBORN, Mich., June 14, 2002 – Ford will commemorate its 100th anniversary June 16, 2003, and plans are already well underway to celebrate this historic milestone.

"The company's centennial offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on our many past accomplishments," said Bill Ford, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company. "But it also challenges us to look ahead and create a vision for continuing success in the future."

Ford's 100th anniversary programs will be targeted primarily at key audiences such as company employees, dealers, suppliers, Ford car clubs and enthusiasts. But interest in the centennial of the company is widespread.

The main communications channel is the company's 100th anniversary Web site, which can be accessed through ford.com. The Web site will continue to grow in phases over the next year. It presently features stories about Henry Ford, the Model T and the Rouge complex, along with other facts and information.

A key section of the site is called "Your Stories." This interactive section allows site visitors to share their Ford stories – everything from their first Ford product to how the company has impacted their lives.

"Ford has touched the lives of people in virtually every corner of the world, and 'Your Stories' gives all of us the opportunity to share our experiences," said Gary Nielsen, executive director, Ford Centennial Operations. "Not only has Ford been a driving force in the auto industry, but it has had a major impact on society, with revolutionary concepts such as the moving automotive assembly line and the $5-a-day workday."

To help share the company's history, a new touring display, named "100th Anniversary Experience," debuted recently at the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pa. The traveling exhibit will visit key events and locations in the United States that are open to the public, as well as Ford Motor Company employee, dealer and supplier events. The display highlights many of the company's accomplishments over the past century, as well as a peek at the future. Inside the 53-foot trailer, visitors will see a milestone timeline, historic photos and memorabilia, along with a special centennial video called "The Road Is Ours."

The company is planning events and activities through the end of 2003. The latest information on activities is available on Ford's 100th anniversary Web site, which can be accessed through www.ford.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is the world's second largest automaker with approximately 350,000 employees, and operating in more than 200 markets on six continents. Its automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Hertz and Quality Care. The company's world headquarters are in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford Motor Company will officially observe its 100th anniversary June 16, 2003. Additional information can be found on the company’s Web site at www.ford.com.
 
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#2 ·
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MILESTONES

1900 – 1909

QUADRICYCLE
June 4, 1896. Henry Ford drives his first vehicle, the Quadricycle -- a buggy frame mounted on four bicycle-type wheels -- on the streets of Detroit.

RACE OF THE CENTURY
Oct. 10, 1901. Henry Ford wins a race against the auto-racing champion of the day, Alexander Winton. His win gave him the credibility to obtain the financial backing to start Ford Motor Company less than two years later.

FIRST DEALER
Jan. 15, 1903. The first Ford dealership (William Hughson Co. Inc.) opens in San Francisco, CA

COMPANY FOUNDED
June 16, 1903. Henry Ford and 11 original investors sign incorporation papers. It was the third attempt by Henry Ford to start an automobile manufacturing business.

EXPANSION WITHIN NORTH AMERICA
Aug.17, 1904. Ford of Canada was incorporated; on June 23, 1925, Ford of Mexico was established.

MODEL T
Oct. 1, 1908. Ford introduces the Model T. More than 15 million Model T's were produced between 1908 and 1927, when the company stopped production.

EXPANSION OF SALES BRANCHES
Oct.1, 1908. The company's first overseas sales branch opens in Paris, France. In December 1913, Ford opened sales branches in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.
1910-1919

THE SELDEN SYNDICATE
Jan. 9, 1911. After complicated court proceedings, Henry Ford wins the lawsuit against the Selden Syndicate. This win freed Ford Motor Company and all other auto manufacturers from paying royalties on internal combustion engines.

EXPANSION IN EUROPE
1911. Ford's first factory outside of North America opens in Manchester, England.
June 25, 1919 Ford Motor Company established offices and assembly plants in Denmark and later in Germany (August 18, 1925)

MOVING AUTOMOTIVE ASSEMBLY LINE
Oct. 7, 1913. The moving automotive assembly line is born. The first final assembly line was installed at Highland Park and immediately made assembly almost eight times faster. Eventually, Model T's were rolling off the line every 10 seconds of each working day.

$5 WORK DAY
Jan. 5, 1914. Henry Ford announces that the minimum wage would be $5 a day (more than double the existing rate) for an eight-hour day (replacing the $2.34 wage for a nine-hour day).

FIRST FORD TRUCK
July 27, 1917. Ford introduces it first truck, Model TT.

ROUGE COMPLEX
Jan. 4, 1918. Construction begins on the massive automotive manufacturing complex. The Rouge plant made manufacturing history with its scale, degree of integration and innovative processes. The facility allowed for the complete production of vehicles from raw materials processing to final assembly.

EDSEL FORD
Jan. 1, 1919. Edsel Ford succeeds Henry Ford as company president.
1920s

FORD PURCHASED LINCOLN
Feb. 4, 1922. Ford purchases the Lincoln brand.
EXPANSION IN ASIA-PACIFIC
Feb. 17, 1925. Ford Japan is formed.

THE FORD TRI-MOTOR
Oct. 8, 1925. Ford builds the first of 196 Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes, which is later used by America's first commercial airlines.


MODEL A
Oct. 27, 1927. Ford begins producing the Model A at the Rouge complex.
1930s
THE START OF MARKET-SPECIFIC DESIGN
Feb. 19, 1932. Ford launches its first car designed specifically for Europe, the Model Y, starting in England.

V8 INTRODUCED
March 9, 1932. Ford is the first company in history to successfully cast a V-8 block in one piece.

GIVING BACK
June 12, 1933. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (formerly the Edison Institute) opens to the public.
1940s

ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY
Feb. 28, 1941. Edsel Ford drives the first Ford World War II vehicle off the line at the Rouge Complex. Ford builds the first general-purpose vehicle (jeep) for military use in March 1941. And, on Feb.1, 1942, the company halts production of civilian vehicles to dedicate itself to the war effort.

FIRST FORD/UAW LABOR AGREEMENT
June 20, 1941. Ford Motor Company signs its first closed, labor agreement with UAW-CIO covering employees in North America.

HENRY FORD RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT
May 26, 1943. Edsel Ford dies at age 49, and on June 1, 1943, Henry Ford is re-elected Ford Motor Company president.

HENRY FORD II NAMED PRESIDENT
Sept. 21, 1945. Henry Ford II is named Ford Motor Company president.

THE WHIZ KIDS
In 1946, Henry Ford II hires 10 young former U.S. Air Force officers, nicknamed the Whiz Kids, who bring the principles of modern management to the company.

F-SERIES
Jan. 16, 1948. Ford builds the first F-Series pickup truck, the most successful vehicle line in automotive history.

'49 FORD
April 26, 1948. Ford's first new car model design, after WWII, goes into production.

1950s

THE THUNDERBIRD
Oct. 22, 1954. Ford Motor Company introduces the Thunderbird.

SAFETY FIRST
Nov. 28, 1954. Ford conducts its first crash test.

FORD GOES PUBLIC
Jan. 17, 1956. First shares of Ford Motor Company common stock are sold.

FORD CREDIT FORMED
Aug. 20, 1959. Ford Motor Credit Company is formed.
1960s
FORD PARTS DIVISION FORMED
April 18, 1961. Ford Parts Division is formed (Motorcraft).

GT40 MARK II INTRODUCED
April 1964. The GT40 Mark II is introduced and goes on to take the top three places in Le Mans in 1966 and breaks almost every established track record at the Daytona 2000-kilometer race.

FORD MUSTANG INTRODUCED
April 17, 1964. The Ford Mustang is introduced, and 1 million units are sold by 1966, just two years after its introduction.

FORD OF EUROPE ESTABLISHED
June 14, 1967. Ford of Europe is established to coordinate the development, manufacturing and sale of cars and trucks in Europe and Africa.
1970s
ASIA-PACIFIC OPERATIONS ESTABLISHED
Aug.17, 1970. Asia-Pacific Auto operations formed.

SAFETY
Jan. 1, 1976. The retractable safety belt restraint system, a new industry standard, is placed in the Mercury Bobcat.

MAZDA
Jan. 1, 1979. Ford acquires a 25 percent equity stake in Mazda.

1980s

FORD/UAW AGREEMENT
Feb. 13, 1982. Ford and UAW reach an historic agreement encompassing innovative labor-management concepts.

TAURUS AND SABLE DEBUTS
Dec. 26, 1985. Taurus and Sable are introduced. Taurus reigned as the best-selling car in the United States from 1992 to 1996.
ASTON MARTIN
Sept. 7, 1987. Ford Motor Company acquires majority interest in Aston Martin Logonda, Ltd., the famous British maker of prestigious automobiles.
HERTZ
Dec. 30, 1987. Ford acquires a stake in Hertz Rental Car Company, and in 1994, Ford makes Hertz a wholly owned subsidiary.

JAGUAR
Dec. 1, 1989. Ford acquires Jaguar for $2.5 billion.
1990s

SAFETY FIRST
June 1, 1993. Ford is first automaker to have dual air bags as standard equipment in most cars.

FORD CHINA
Feb. 28, 1994. Ford China Operations formed.

ISO 14001
Dec. 8, 1996. Ford becomes first and only auto company to certify all of its plants (140 plants in 26 countries) under ISO 14001, the world environmental standard.

BILL FORD BECOMES CHAIRMAN
Jan. 1, 1999. Bill Ford becomes chairman of Ford Motor Company. In October 2001, he adds the role of Chief Executive Officer.

TH!NK
Jan. 1, 1999. Ford announces its intention to acquire 51 percent interest in Norway's PIVCO Industries, maker of the TH!NK two-seat electric city car.

VOLVO
Jan. 28, 1999. Ford Motor Company buys Volvo for $6.45 billion.

LEV
May 17, 1999. Ford announces that all pickup trucks will be low emission vehicles, starting with F-series trucks in model year 2000 and adding Ranger for the 2001 model year, with the large majority preceding any U.S. emissions requirements by years.
2000+
CAR OF THE YEAR
Jan. 10, 2000. Ford Focus is the first vehicle to receive both 'North American Car of the Year' and 'European Car of the Year' awards.

LAND ROVER
June 30, 2000. Ford Motor Company officially takes ownership of Land Rover from the BMW Group.

ROUGE REDEVELOPMENT
Nov. 14, 2000. Ford begins redevelopment of the entire Ford Rouge Center, which will include a new vehicle assembly plan as the centerpiece of the nation's largest industrial redevelopment project.

THUNDERBIRD
Nov. 21, 2001. Ford Thunderbird is named Motor Trend's Car of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time.

GT40 CONCEPT
Jan. 6, 2002. Ford Motor Company CEO Bill Ford unveils GT40 concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Several weeks later the company announces the GT40 concept will go into production as part of its 100th anniversary plans in 2003.

100th ANNIVERSARY
June 16, 2003. Ford Motor Company celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 
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