Did Ford stop making cars during WWII?
No. Ford did not stop making cars entirely, but the company halted civilian auto production for the duration of World War II and redirected its plants toward war production, notably building B-24 Liberator bombers at Willow Run and producing other military hardware.
Overview of Ford's wartime pivot
As the United States mobilized for war after 1941, Ford redirected the bulk of its manufacturing capacity away from civilian vehicles toward military production. The company’s plants across the country shifted to produce aircraft, military vehicles, and other war materiel used by Allied forces.
To meet war demand, Ford closed civilian car lines for the duration of the conflict and retooled factories. This shift was coordinated with government programs and relied on the company’s large-scale manufacturing capabilities.
Major wartime lines of production
Before delving into the specifics, a snapshot of where Ford concentrated its wartime output helps explain how the company kept factories busy while civilian auto sales paused.
- B-24 Liberator bombers at the Willow Run plant in Michigan
- GPA amphibious personnel carrier, the "Sea Jeep"
- Trucks, engines, and other military components produced in Ford factories nationwide
These efforts illustrate how Ford sustained production during the war while normal car manufacturing paused.
Willow Run and the B-24 program
The Willow Run facility, opened in 1941 under Ford leadership, became a symbol of American wartime manufacturing. It produced a large share of the U.S. Army Air Forces' B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, supporting Allied air campaigns in Europe and the Pacific as part of a broader industrial mobilization.
Willow Run details
The massive plant employed tens of thousands of workers, including many women who joined assembly lines in unprecedented numbers. The operation required extensive retooling and logistics to accommodate the complex B-24 airframe and propulsion systems.
Other notable Ford wartime projects
Beyond aircraft, Ford contributed to the war effort through the production of amphibious vehicles and a range of military trucks and components, distributed to services across theaters of operation. These efforts underpinned Allied logistics and mobility while civilian car output was suspended.
Ford GPA and other vehicles
The Ford GPA was an amphibious vehicle designed for river crossings and beach landings. Produced during 1942–1943, it complemented Willys-Overland Jeeps and other transport assets used by Allied forces in various theaters.
Return to peacetime production
After the war, Ford quickly resumed civilian car production and retooled plants to reenter the postwar market. The transition required new investments and adjustments, but Ford’s wartime manufacturing experience accelerated the return to civilian automotive output and influenced postwar product development.
Summary
Ford did not discontinue carmaking during World War II; it paused civilian automobile production and redirected its factories to war work. The Willow Run plant produced B-24 Liberators, Ford developed the GPA amphibious vehicle, and a broad portfolio of military trucks and components were manufactured at Ford facilities. The wartime shift demonstrated Ford’s capacity to repurpose production at scale, and the company resumed civilian vehicle production once the conflict ended.
What did Ford do during WWII?
During WWII, the Ford Motor Company engaged in both war production for the Allies and controversial business with the Axis powers. The company famously became an "Arsenal of Democracy," building B-24 bombers, jeeps, and other military vehicles for the United States. Simultaneously, Ford's German subsidiary produced trucks for the Nazi army, using slave labor, which the parent company was aware of and from which it profited.
Contributions to the Allied war effort
- B-24 bombers: Ford's Willow Run plant became famous for its high-volume production of B-24 Liberator bombers, building over 8,600 planes by the war's end.
- Other military vehicles: The company produced significant numbers of other military equipment, including 278,000 jeeps, 93,000 military trucks, and thousands of tanks and engines.
- War plants: Ford converted several existing plants, such as the one in Richmond, California, to produce military vehicles and assemble tanks.
Operations with Nazi Germany
- Production for the German army: Ford's German subsidiary, Ford Werke AG, became a major supplier of military trucks to the German Wehrmacht, with one-third of the trucks used by the German army being Ford-made by 1942.
- Use of slave labor: The Cologne plant used slave and forced laborers, a fact Ford later admitted under oath.
- Profiting from the subsidiary: Ford received dividends from its German subsidiary during the war and sought reparations for Allied bombing damage to its German facilities after the war, though the use of slave labor was not discussed in these proceedings.
- Government awareness: Documents show the Dearborn parent company was aware of the German operations and the use of forced labor.
When did they stop making cars during World War II?
It also established wage and price controls. All manufacturers ended their production of automobiles on February 22, 1942. The January 1942 production quota had been a little over 100,000 automobiles and light trucks.
Did Ford make cars in 1943?
Ford production during World War II was transformed to aid the war effort. All civilian auto production was halted by February 10, 1942; any Fords built after that date were spirited away to government warehouses or turned over to the military.
Did Ford make cars during WWII?
No, Ford did not make civilian cars during World War II, as the U.S. government banned civilian automobile production in February 1942 to focus on the war effort. Ford, like other American automakers, shifted its entire production capacity to the war effort, manufacturing a vast array of military vehicles such as jeeps, half-tracks, and Sherman tanks, as well as airplane engines and other war materials.
- Civilian car production halted: Civilian car and truck production at Ford ceased in February 1942. The last civilian automobiles built were primarily for 1942 models, and any completed were sent to government warehouses or the military.
- Shift to military production: Ford's production lines were converted to build a wide range of military equipment. This included a significant number of jeeps, as well as armored cars, half-tracks, and more than 100,000 tons of armor plate.
- Major war contributions: Ford's Willow Run plant in Michigan was famously dedicated to producing B-24 bomber planes. Ford also produced numerous tank engines, including the GAA engine used in the Ford-built M4A3 Sherman tank.
- Post-war resumption: Civilian car production resumed after the war, with the first new car gifted to President Harry Truman in September 1945.
