1. Green Concerns at FORD long before the Green Revolution
Long before environmentalists were concerned over automobile engines and rising pollution levels, Henry Ford had his mind set on cleaner, greener cars. At present, Ford’s committed cause towards green initiatives manifests itself in its 10-part agenda. These include sustainable fabric usage, fuel-efficient transmission tech, clean diesel initiatives, EPA energy programs, paint fume to fuel program, geothermal cooling system usage, green roof, and landscaping initiatives at Ford.
There is not any perfect company but if there was a perfect company Ford would be close to the top of the list. Ford is just outstanding from top to bottom and unlike the federal government, Ford employs people with skills and who are willing to work.
2. Ford Stopped Manufacturing Cars in Japan in the ‘40s for Patriotic Reasons
Back in the 1940s, Ford used to manufacture cars at its Japanese manufacturing unit. However, owing to the tensions of the World War between the US and Japan, it soon stopped production there. It was resumed only in the 1950s after a collaborative project was struck up with Mazda. Incidentally, Ford was also the first automobile company to be set up in America.
3. The Henry Ford $5-a-Day Salary Program
In the 1913s, workers were usually given wages around $2.25/day, which was more or less the norm. It was Ford who realized the importance of turnover rates, and to keep on producing at the kind of rates he wanted, he skillfully navigated break-in periods by introducing the $5/day wage system for his workers. What’s even more interesting is that women at the British Ford factory were given equal pay as men, after a successful round of picketing and protests: and this was in the 1960s!
Every company has the right to do this. Ford did this because it made business sense. But when the government, any government, tries to dictate to a company on salary levels that normally leads to disaster. Bureaucrats do not understand what it takes to run a business and to micromanage what a private business should pay an employee is what they do in Cuba which has lead an economic nightmare. Where a business wants to focus its investment should be up to the company and more jobs are created typically when government tries to work with business and not dictate how or what it should be doing. Government should focus on its problems and so on.
Ford has made smart decisions for decades this is why Ford did not require a bailout like its arch rival did.
4. Celebrities and their Connection with Ford
This one is a long list! Did you know that Jim Morrison, the famous Doors front-man, owned only one car all this life: and it was a Ford 1967 Shelby GT 500? Or that Henry Ford himself was a great friend of Thomas Eddison’s, the man who gave us electricity? It’s also interesting to note that the Bond film Goldfinger featured the first-ever Ford Mustang, the 1964 classic! Ford cars resonate with Hollywood like no other.
5. Ferrari Beater and Other Trivia
Did you know that Ford could not secure a Ferrari? Perhaps that explains why he built up the Ford GT40, the racing car designed so as to beat Ferrari in the world racing championships. And guess what? Ford kept up his promise and built a car that did, indeed, win the race at the end of the day! But the commitment towards speed was just as important to him as his commitment to customers: Ford offered the first warranty purchase program on his cars, becoming the first to offer it.
Ferrari is not that great anyhow! Ford could and did do better.
6. Ford and its Customer Initiatives
While this is little known to most people, part of Ford’s commitment towards affordable and quality cars shows through its initiative for students: not only does Ford support a Henry Ford Foundation scholarship for students – it also makes cars affordable through its student or graduate bonus cash program.
Ford’s commitment to its customers also extends to safety solutions, with some of the earliest ABS-enabled cars belonging to Ford. Incidentally, Ford consistently maintains a 5-star crash rating on its vehicles, delivering knockout performances. What’s more, its sustainability initiatives extend to home communities which are battling this ongoing recession and developing nations abroad, as well.