100 Years Ago, Ford Set Up Shop In Germany

Aside from the fact that Ford has existed as a company for well over a century to this point, the automaker has also marked 100 years of operation in more than one country as of late – a list that includes places like Mexico and Australia. Now, we have yet another country to add to that growing list – Germany – as Ford is now celebrating 100 years of operation in that part of the world, where it not only sells a variety of models, but also, builds several of them.

In fact, it was 100 years ago today that Ford Motor Company was registered in the commercial register in Berlin, and just a few months later, assembly of the Model T began at Berlin West Harbor. Five years after that, Henry Ford and then-Mayor of Cologne, Germany – Konrad Adenauer – laid the foundation for the automaker’s plant in Cologne-Niehl. Since then, Ford has produced a number of vehicles in Germany, including the Taunus, Escort, Fiesta, and Transit, along with the Explorer and Capri EVs of today.

At the same time, Ford Germany engineers have introduced several pioneering technological achievements over the past century – such as standard anti-lock brakes in the Scorpio, heated windscreens, and state-of-the-art engine technology, not to mention advancements in safety, comfort, and efficiency. Along with these passenger and commercial-focused vehicles, Ford Germany has worked to root itself in the local community by hiring and developing young talent, as well as committing to several social projects.

Today, the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center looks quite a lot different than Ford’s original facility in the same city, and it’s building all-electric vehicles rather than old combustion engine-powered machines. Regardless, the automaker’s commitment to the country of Germany remains unchanged – in fact, it recently reached an agreement with the union IG Metall that will result in protection for all employees at the Cologne plant through 2032, ensuring its continued operation for years to come.