Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a United States-based multinational automaker, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. It designs, manufactures and sells passenger cars, bakkies, commercial vehicles and increasingly electric vehicles across global markets. The company is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with the Ford family retaining significant influence through a dual-class share structure. In South Africa, Ford operates manufacturing facilities including the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria and the Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha, producing vehicles such as the Ranger bakkie for domestic and export markets. Its South African operations fall under the Automotive Production and Development Programme, which incentivises local manufacturing and export competitiveness. Ford competes with other global manufacturers present in South Africa, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The company has pursued broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) initiatives to align with local ownership and transformation requirements. Ford's South African leadership has included executives such as Neale Hill, who have overseen local investment and production strategy. The company is one of the largest vehicle exporters from South Africa, supporting substantial local employment and supplier networks. Ford was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and pioneered mass production techniques that transformed the global automotive industry. Its South African presence dates back decades, making it a long-standing contributor to the country's automotive manufacturing sector.