Did Dodge and Ford work together?
Yes. In the early days of the American auto industry, the Dodge brothers acted as major suppliers to Ford, before launching their own car company. Today, the Dodge brand operates independently under Stellantis, while Ford remains a separate automaker with no ongoing joint venture with Dodge.
To understand whether the two automakers ever collaborated beyond a supplier relationship, it helps to trace their interactions from the Model T era through the 20th-century consolidation of the industry and into the present-day corporate structure. The story is one of initial alignment, eventual competition, and enduring brand separation.
Origins and early collaboration
Supplier role in the Model T era
In the early 20th century, the Dodge brothers built a reputation as trusted suppliers to Ford, providing components and fabrications that supported Ford’s rapid production of the Model T. This relationship was rooted in the broader ecosystem of the time, where automakers depended on a network of outside manufacturers for parts and assemblies.
Before the shift from supplier to independent producer, Ford relied on a complex supply chain, and the Dodge brothers became prominent figures within that ecosystem due to their engineering know-how and manufacturing capabilities.
Key milestones in their relationship with Ford illustrate how intertwined the two companies were before Dodge decided to pursue its own car company.
- 1900s–1910s: The Dodge brothers supply Ford with a large share of components and parts for Ford vehicles, contributing to Ford’s scale and efficiency in mass production.
- Circa 1914: The Dodge brothers launch Dodge Brothers Company and begin producing their own automobiles, signaling a move away from being exclusively suppliers to Ford.
- 1920s: Ford and Dodge operate as competing automakers within the expanding U.S. auto market, each pursuing its own path to growth and innovation.
The shift from supplier to independent automaker marks a turning point in their relationship, transitioning from collaboration to competition as each company sought to capitalize on its own product vision.
Corporate transitions and the modern era
From Dodge Brothers to Chrysler
Following the Dodge brothers’ push to build their own vehicles, the Dodge brand eventually came under the umbrella of Chrysler. In 1928, Chrysler acquired the assets of the Dodge Brothers company, and Dodge became a formal brand within Chrysler (later part of the broader Stellantis portfolio after the 2021 merger that created Stellantis from FCA and PSA).
That consolidation reshaped the American auto landscape, placing Dodge and Ford on parallel trajectories under different corporate families. The historical collaboration between Dodge as a supplier and Ford as a customer ended with the Dodge Brothers’ transition to an independent automaker and, ultimately, a brand within a separate corporate empire.
From Chrysler to Stellantis
When FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) merged with PSA Group in 2021 to form Stellantis, the Dodge brand became part of Stellantis. Ford Motor Company, meanwhile, remained independent under the Ford umbrella. Since then, Dodge and Ford have operated as distinct brands with no formal joint venture or working partnership.
Current corporate realities aside, the historical tie between Dodge and Ford remains a notable chapter in early automotive business practices: a fruitful supplier relationship that helped Ford scale, followed by Dodge’s evolution into its own line of vehicles under a different corporate ownership.
Current status and significance
Today, Ford Motor Company and Dodge (as a brand within Stellantis) are separate entities with no ongoing collaboration. The Dodge brand continues to produce its lineup of cars and trucks under Stellantis, while Ford remains independently owned and operated as Ford Motor Company. Their paths diverged long ago, but the early supplier relationship remains a documented facet of automotive history.
Summary
In summary, Dodge and Ford did work together in the sense that the Dodge brothers were important suppliers to Ford during Ford’s early push for mass production. They later parted ways to form Dodge as an independent automaker, and the brand ultimately became part of Chrysler, then Stellantis. Today, Ford and Dodge operate separately with no current joint venture or formal collaboration.
Did Ford and Dodge work together?
From 1903 to 1913, the Dodge brothers worked closely with Ford. They even became part-owners of the company! Their shop grew so big that they had to open a second factory to keep up with orders.
Did the Dodge Brothers ever work for Ford?
Yes, the Dodge brothers worked for Ford, not as employees, but as the exclusive supplier of major components for Ford Motor Company's early vehicles, including engines, transmissions, and axles, from 1903 to 1913. The brothers were so integral to Ford's success that they accepted 100 shares of Ford stock in exchange for their initial investment in supplying Ford's first cars.
- Early partnership: The Dodge Brothers Company was a key supplier for Ford from 1903 to 1913.
- Stock ownership: As part of their agreement, the Dodge brothers became early shareholders in the Ford Motor Company, receiving 100 shares in exchange for their services and investment.
- Separation: After a decade of supplying Ford, the brothers ended their relationship in 1913 to begin building their own automobiles, with the first Dodge car rolling out the following year.
Why did the Dodge Brothers sue Ford?
The Dodge brothers sued Ford because Henry Ford stopped paying special dividends to shareholders, opting instead to reinvest profits into expanding the company, lowering car prices, and increasing worker pay. The Dodge brothers, who were minority shareholders and also ran their own successful car company, argued that Ford's actions were detrimental to shareholders and that Ford's public statements prioritized societal benefit over maximizing profit for its owners.
- Differing views on corporate purpose: The core of the dispute was a fundamental disagreement over the purpose of a corporation. Ford believed a company should prioritize the well-being of its employees and customers, even at the expense of short-term profits. The Dodge brothers, as shareholders, argued that the company's primary duty was to maximize profit for its owners.
- Strategic motivation: Some theories suggest that Ford was also trying to squeeze out the Dodge brothers, who were a significant competitor, by cutting off their dividend income and making it harder for them to fund their own burgeoning car company.
- The lawsuit and its outcome: The Dodge brothers sued to force Ford to pay a special dividend and to stop the construction of a massive smelting plant that would be funded by those reinvested profits. The lower court sided with the Dodge brothers, but the case is most famous for the Michigan Supreme Court's ruling that a corporation should primarily serve its shareholders.
Is Dodge owned by Ford?
No, Ford does not own Dodge; Dodge is owned by Stellantis, the multinational automotive group formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group. While the Dodge brothers initially supplied parts to and partnered with Henry Ford, they later started their own car company in 1914, and the two brands have been separate ever since.
- Dodge's current owner: Stellantis owns Dodge, along with other brands like Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram.
- Historical connection to Ford: The Dodge brothers were partners and suppliers to the early Ford Motor Company, providing parts for its vehicles.
- Break from Ford: The brothers eventually left to start their own automobile company, and in 1919, the Dodge brothers sold their stock back to Ford, cementing their separation.
- Path to Stellantis: The Dodge brand was later sold to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928 and remained with Chrysler through various ownership changes before becoming part of Stellantis after the FCA-PSA Group merger.
