Ford Motor Argentina
| Ford Motor Argentina
|
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|---|---|
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| legal form | SA |
| founding | 1913 as the Ford Motor Company of Argentina |
| Seat | General Pacheco (Buenos Aires), Argentina |
| management | Jorge Di Nucci (Manager International Affairs) |
| Number of employees | 2.123 |
| Branch | Automobile manufacturer |
| Website | www.ford.com.ar |
The Ford Motor Argentina SA is a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was 1913 in Buenos Aires as Ford Motor Company of Argentina founded. The first product was the Model T , which was assembled in 1917 from CKD kits supplied by Ford USA . Today the most famous model from Ford Argentina is the Focus . Earlier, the Falcon , originally a US model, was introduced in Argentina in 1961 and adapted to the conditions there.
history
In 1913 Ford appeared on the Argentine market and in 1917 the first Ford branch in South America was established in Buenos Aires. In 1922, a body press and assembly plant was inaugurated in La Boca . At that time, Ford automobiles were sold through a network of 285 dealers. There were 400 administrators and salaried workers. The factory was later expanded to 1,500 workers due to increasing demand.
In 1939, with the beginning of the Second World War, the import of vehicles and vehicle parts was discontinued. The production was limited to the completion of already started wagons with existing parts, but increasing supply difficulties forced the closure of the factory. During this time, Ford manufactured batteries and supported its customers with the sale of spare parts and accessories that were manufactured in local workshops. The later rise of the Argentine supplier industry is due to this fact.
In 1957, the Ford Motor Company of Argentina began manufacturing again at the La Boca factory; F-series commercial vehicles were produced. This plant was built in 1925 to manufacture the T-Model. From 1962, the production of the F series was relocated to the assembly plant in Pacheco. The former Ford Motor Argentina SA was taken over in 1959.
Autolatina
In 1987 Autolatina Argentina was created from the merger of the Ford Motor Company of Argentina and Volkswagen Argentina. Both brands retained their own range of products, their marketing and sales network and their independent dealers and workshops. All other departments were merged, which led to substantial savings, but also to a staff reduction of almost 50%. However, the sales figures and productivity developed disappointingly, so that the joint venture was dissolved again in 1994. On January 1, 1995, Ford Argentina SA was re-established. The Autolatina plants were split up and Ford became the sole owner of the Pacheco plant, which was converted to produce the Escort and Ranger models . Volkswagen received the commercial vehicle plant and converted it for the construction of cars.
In December 1996, all Ford Motor Company of Argentina plants and after-sales department were certified to ISO 9002 and in April 1999 the Pacheco assembly plant received ISO 14001 certification .
In August 2000, production of the Ford Focus began in Pacheco. This car was named "Car of the Year" in Argentina by various journalists' associations.
In 2000 Ford had a market share of 14.9%, making it the second largest automobile manufacturer in Argentina. The market shares were 13.4% for cars and 18.9% for commercial vehicles. The latter secured Ford first place among commercial vehicle manufacturers with an annual production of 56,300 units. Ford also took first place in export. In 2007, Ford's market share had dropped to 12.8%, putting it in third place after Peugeot-Citroën (28.5%) and General Motors (20.5%). The annual production was over 64,000 units.
After more than 95 years of presence in Argentina, Ford is a highly valued brand with a very good image. Ford was voted Brand of the Century. Its factories produce for the national market and for export. The export quota is high and Ford is one of the most important exporters of Argentina.
The role of Ford in the Argentine Dirty War
Ford Motor Company of Argentina was charged with collaborating with the dictatorial military regime in 1976-1983 for having actively participated in the regime's political repression of intellectuals and dissidents. But nothing could be proven and the company declined any responsibility.
In a lawsuit brought in 1996 by the relatives of approximately 600 Argentine nationals who disappeared during the " Dirty War ", evidence was found to confirm suspicions that much of the reprisals was carried out by Ford and other large business corporations . According to a 5,000-page report, Ford directors made lists of “subversive” workers and passed them on to military task forces who were allowed to operate in the plants. These groups kidnapped, tortured and probably killed workers - at times probably even in the factories themselves. The company, however, declined any responsibility.
In a second trial, a report by the Central de los Trabajadores Argentinos (CTA) (= Argentine union) was presented and witnesses who had previously worked for Ford confirmed that the company's Argentine plant served as an internment camp from 1976 to 1978 and that the Management allowed the military to build their own bunkers on the factory premises. However, society again refused any responsibility.
Stations in the company's history
- 1913: Ford appears on the Argentine market. This is the first office in Latin America and the second worldwide after the UK.
- 1917: The import of CKD sets for assembly in Buenos Aires begins.
- 1925: The first Latin American Ford plant is opened and construction of the T-model begins.
- 1927: The 100,000. Ford Model T is built in La Boca.
- 1928: The A model comes out.
- 1932: The Ford V8 is presented and built until 1942.
- 1945–1947: Ford builds civil vehicles again for the first time since the war.
- 1957: F-series flatbed trucks are manufactured in La Boca.
- 1961: The chassis for the F-600 flatbed truck and the B-600 bus are built.
- 1961: Production of the Falcon begins in La Boca.
- 1962: The Pacheta assembly and body press plant is inaugurated.
- 1961–1991: The Falcon is manufactured and sold in Argentina.
- 1962: F-series flatbed trucks are built in Pacheco.
- 1965: The Henry Ford Technical School is founded.
- 1967: Ford takes over the Metcon foundry and the Transax transmission plant.
- 1967: The Fairlane is manufactured and sold in Argentina.
- 1974: The Ford Taunus comes out.
- 1977–1984: Ford becomes the largest automobile manufacturer in Argentina and in 1982 achieved a market share of 38%.
- 1979: The Ford Falcon becomes Argentina's best-selling car with 28,522 units and repeats this success six times.
- 1982: The assembly plant for commercial vehicles is inaugurated.
- 1982: The 1,000,000. Ford made in Argentina is a Taunus. Ford's market share rises to 38%.
- 1984: The Ford Sierra comes out.
- 1987: Ford and Volkswagen found the Autolatina joint venture. / The Ford Escort comes out.
- 1991: The Ford Falcon is discontinued after 30 years and over 490,000 copies.
- 1994–1995: All Ford plants in Argentina achieve quality level Q1.
- 1994: The Ford Orion comes out.
- 1975–1995: Ford has been the market leader in commercial vehicles for 20 consecutive years.
- 1995: The Autolatina joint venture is dissolved. / The commercial vehicle plant and the Transax gearbox will remain with Volkswagen.
- 1996: Ford Argentina SA is re-established. / Certification according to ISO 9002 is achieved. / The Ford Ranger comes out.
- 1997: Ford is voted “Brand of the Century” in Argentina. / Ford is Argentina's largest exporter.
- 1998: The 2,000,000. Ford is delivered.
- 1999: The Argentine Ford plants are certified according to ISO 14.001.
- 2000: Production of the Focus begins in Argentina. / The Focus is named “Car of the Year”. / Ford Argentina starts selling Mazda as a separate brand.
- 2001: The sale of Volvo and Land Rover as own brands by Ford Argentina begins.
- 2007: Ford invests US $ 156.5 million in the Pacheco plant.
- 2010: Ford Focus Mk. II, Ford Sigma, Ford Kuga and the new Ford Ecosport y Fiesta are produced.
Assembled and manufactured models (in chronological order)
Car
- Ford Model T assembled (1917–1925)
- Ford Model T manufactured (1925–1928)
- Ford Model A (1928-1932)
- Ford V8 (1932-1942)
- Ford Falcon (1962-1991)
- Ford Fairlane (1969-1979)
- Ford Taunus (1974-1983)
- Ford Sierra (1984-1993)
- Ford Escort (1987-2002)
- Ford Orion (1994-1997)
- Ford Galaxy (1992-1996)
- Ford Mondeo (1995-present)
- Ford Ka (1997-present)
- Ford Focus (1999-present)
commercial vehicles
- Ford F-250 chassis
- Ford F-350 chassis
- Ford F-400 chassis
- Ford F-500 chassis
- Ford F-600 chassis (1959 - ????)
- Ford B-600 chassis (1959 - ????)
- Ford F-700 chassis
- Ford F-6000 chassis
- Ford F-7000 chassis
- Ford F-100 / F-150 flatbed truck (1957–1997)
- Ford F-150 / F-250 flatbed truck (2x4 / 4x4) (1980–1997)
- Ford Cargo 1722 (19 ?? - today)
- Ford Ranger (2x4 / 4x4) (1996-today)
Ford in South America
In South America the most important branches are in Brazil , Argentina and for Ford Andina in Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Ford has over 18,000 employees and operates seven assembly and other plants in the region.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ History of Ford Motor Company of Argentina at Auto-Historia.com.ar (English)
- ↑ History of the Ford Falcon in Argentina (Spanish)
- ↑ Argentina at the US Commercial Service (English) ( Memento of the original from November 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ www.commondreams.org Ford Motor Is Linked to Argentina's "Dirty War" . www.commondreams.org November 27, 2002 ( Memento of the original from December 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ www.bbc.co.uk Argentina Checks Ford's "Military Ties" . BBC News November 6, 2002
- ↑ Ford to Invest US $ 156.5m in Pacheco Facility . Automotiveworld.com.
- ↑ Worldwide businesses of the Ford Motor Company. www.ford.com. (English) ( Memento of the original from April 24, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
