The Ford Motor Company (often referred to as Ford; sometimes nicknamed FoMoCo), is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, United States (where the company is currently headquartered), and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In its 20th century heyday, Ford, along with General Motors and Chrysler, were known as Detroit's "Big Three" automakers, companies that dominated the American auto market. Toyota surpassed Ford in revenue starting in 2004. Ford remains one of the world's ten largest corporations by revenue.
Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars, and large-scale management of an industrial workforce. Ford implemented the ideas of Eli Whitney, who developed one of the first assembly lines using interchangeable parts, which made it possible to put the cars together at a much lower cost and with greater reliability and repeatability. The use of a chain-driven track to move the vehicles to the workers was unique in the industry and quickly became the preferred method for volume production. As the individual work tasks became simple and repetitive this allowed the use of unskilled laborers who could be quickly trained for a single task (though it also removed most of the satisfaction that a worker performing multiple tasks may enjoy).
Ford cars are regular participants of all major world motor shows. As a rule the Ford stand at an exhibition is one of the most popular since the management never skimps on the Ford show and presentations of all latest models of vehicles are accompanied with bright and splendid performances.
The last North American International Auto Show proved auto makers had not given up on the notion of the real American car. The bevy of new sports coupes, family sedans, luxury cars and even a few exotic concepts demonstrated a concerted effort by the industry to steer buyers in a direction they otherwise would avoid, because in recent years Americans have clearly shown their inclination towards smaller and low-key style cars consuming much less fuel than those glitzy gas-guzzlers so popular a couple of decades ago. Following this trend Ford Motor Company staked its claim as America's most popular car company at the 2005 Auto Show in Detroit with the usual impressive Ford show presentations of bold new products and provocative concept vehicles.
Behind the splendid Ford show demonstration the company unveiled its new Fusion midsize car, which forms a 1-2 punch alongside the new Five Hundred in replacing the Taurus. Based on the Mazda 6 architecture, the Fusion will be attractive to a younger, sportier-oriented buyer who may not need to fit eight sets of golf clubs into the trunk of a Five Hundred.
In addition, Ford show unveiled the Mercury Meta One CUV, which is meant to be a technology showcase as well as give a glimpse of a future Mercury set for '07 off the Ford Freestyle's D3 platform. Other Ford concepts include the B-segment SYN 95 urban utility cruiser and the boxy, avant garde Ford Fairlane minivan, also off the Mazda 6 platform.
So Ford Motor Co. tries its best to stay on top by courting all categories of potential car buyers: from go-getting yuppies to steady-going family men.