Ford Celebrates A Century In South Africa
Ford Celebrates A Century In South Africa. Ford has played an integral role in South Africa’s history since establishing its local operations in 1923, boasting a proud tradition of pioneering achievements and industry milestones over the past century.
In 1903, the same year as the Wright brothers’ ground-breaking 12-second, 36-metre powered flight at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, intrepid engineer Henry Ford and a team of investors established the Ford Motor Company. Their venture began on 16 June, six months before the Wright Flyer’s historic flight. With a modest capital of just $28 000, the Ford Motor Company embarked on its journey.
Signalling South Africa’s importance within the company’s global ambitions, Henry Ford made a strategic move just two years later. He appointed Arkell & Douglas in Port Elizabeth as the company’s agents in the country for the distribution and sale of Ford cars within the local market.
To meet the immense global demand for the Model T, Ford began building plants outside of the United States, and established Ford of Canada which supplied vehicles to the British Commonwealth markets, including South Africa. The Model T quickly became SA’s most popular car, and it was only a matter of time before the decision was made to begin assembling vehicles in South Africa.
In November 1923, Ford Motor Company of South Africa was founded in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). It operated as a subsidiary of Ford of Canada, strategically leveraging the city’s well-established sea, rail and road links. Work began immediately on converting an old wool store in Grahamstown Road. This transformation marked the inception of Ford’s 16th assembly plant outside of the US. The local assembly operations began with the Model T, utilising completely knocked-down (CKD) kits imported from Canada. This pioneering move not only made Ford the first global vehicle manufacturer to establish operations in South Africa, but also introduced the continent’s initial assembly line of any kind.
As Ford builds up to its Centenary celebrations later this year, it provides a moment to pause and reflect on a truly remarkable history. This history includes a long list of iconic nameplates that have provided people with mobility for 100 years. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the bold steps taken to reach new heights and to highlight the significant industry firsts and records that have been set along the way.
