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Learn the story behind the creation of Ford, the innovation of the Model T and how Henry Ford forever changed industry and global mobility.
Henry Ford was not the first person to build an automobile, but he was responsible for making it an affordable, popular commodity that was an integral part of modern life. With the creation of Ford and the launch of the Model T in 1908, Ford ushered in a new era in the industry, shaping the course of urban mobility and mass production.
His name is directly linked to profound changes in the way work, consumption and technology interconnect in the contemporary world. The creation of Ford and the invention of the assembly line system made Henry Ford a central figure in the industrial history of the 20th century.
The origin of Henry Ford's trajectory
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. The son of farmers, he showed a deep interest in machines and mechanisms from an early age. At the age of 15, he was already disassembling and assembling watches, an experience that served as the basis for the mechanical reasoning that would accompany him throughout his life.
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At the age of 16, Ford left the family farm and moved to Detroit, where he began working as an apprentice in a mechanic's shop. This phase was crucial for his direct contact with internal combustion engines, which were still a novelty at the time.
First steps towards the creation of Ford
In 1896, Henry Ford built his first motorized vehicle, called the “Quadricycle.” The simple, four-wheeled, gasoline-powered automobile was assembled in his garage. The feat caught the attention of local investors and marked the beginning of his direct involvement in the automobile industry.
After unsuccessful attempts with two previous companies, Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903, with the support of 12 investors. Among them was banker John Gray, who became the company's first president.
With an initial capital of US$28, Ford began operating in Detroit, focusing on manufacturing simple, reliable and affordable cars. The goal was clear: to build vehicles that could be purchased not only by the elite, but by ordinary people.
The Birth of the Model T
Five years after the company was founded, on October 1, 1908, Ford launched what would become the most influential car in history: The Model T. Starting at $850, the car was rugged, simple to drive, and easy to maintain.
Built with a four-cylinder engine, the Model T could reach speeds of up to 75 km/h, an impressive speed for the time. Its simple mechanics allowed it to be easily repaired, even in rural areas without access to specialized services.
More than a technological innovation, the Model T represented a new model of consumption and behavior. The car came to symbolize freedom, mobility and progress.
The assembly line: innovation that changed the industry
In 1913, Ford implemented a serial assembly line system at his Highland Park, Michigan, plant. Inspired by industrial processes in Chicago slaughterhouses, Ford adapted the concept to automotive production.
With this new method, the time required to assemble a Model T dropped from 12 hours and 30 minutes to just 1 hour and 33 minutes. The efficiency revolutionized the industry and dramatically increased production.
This change allowed prices to drop: by 1925, a Model T could be purchased for less than $300. More than 15 million units were produced by the time production ended in 1927.
Fordism and its impact on work
The term Fordism arose from the mass production system developed by Henry Ford. The concept came to represent not only an industrial technique, but a management philosophy based on standardization, division of tasks and increased productivity.
In 1914, Ford surprised the world by doubling the daily wage of his factory workers to $5 a day. The goal was not only to motivate the workers, but to enable them to buy the cars they produced themselves.
This measure was seen by many as a milestone in labor relations. At the same time, the repetitiveness and strict control of production time generated criticism regarding working conditions in factories.
Ford's expansion around the world
The success of the Model T and its mass production system allowed Ford to expand its operations internationally. In 1911, the company opened its first factory outside the United States, in Canada. It later established plants in England, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries.
Ford began operating in Brazil in 1919, importing and selling vehicles. In 1921, the first national assembly line was opened in the Bom Retiro neighborhood of São Paulo. The brand had a strong presence in the country throughout the XNUMXth century, with iconic models such as the Galaxie, Corcel and Ka.
Retirement and the last years of Henry Ford
Henry Ford stepped down as president of the company in 1919, handing the position over to his son Edsel Ford. However, after Edsel's untimely death in 1943, Henry resumed management of the company, despite his advanced age.
In 1945, he finally passed the reins of Ford to his grandson, Henry Ford II. Two years later, on April 7, 1947, Henry Ford passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy of economic, industrial, and cultural transformation.
The Model T Legacy
The Model T was not just a commercial success. It redefined the standards of the automobile industry and gave rise to the car culture that shapes the world to this day. The car made personal transportation widely available, influencing everything from the layout of cities to social and economic habits.
In 1999, Henry Ford was elected by the magazine Team as one of the hundred greatest figures of the 20th century. His contribution goes beyond the automotive sector: he redefined the way goods are produced, distributed and consumed on a global scale.
Ford in the 21st Century
Ford remains one of the world's largest automakers, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. The company has adapted to the times by investing in electric cars, hybrids and autonomous driving technologies.
Even with increasing competition and changes in the global market, the brand remains synonymous with innovation and tradition. Henry Ford's pioneering spirit is still present in the company's strategies, which seek to balance its industrial heritage with the demands of sustainable mobility in the future.
