How long has Ford had the same logo?
The emblem Ford uses today—the blue oval with the white script—has been in use since 1927, making it one of the longest-running corporate logos in automotive history. It has endured for nearly a century with only incremental styling tweaks.
To understand the question fully, it helps to trace the logo’s origins, how it has appeared across generations of vehicles and marketing materials, and the subtle refinements that have kept it current in print, signage, and digital media. This article lays out the timeline and explains why Ford’s blue oval remains central to the company’s brand identity.
Origins and longevity of the blue oval
Ford introduced the blue oval badge as its global emblem in the late 1920s, choosing a simple, bold mark that could be reproduced consistently across factories and markets. Since then, the oval and the iconic white script have become an enduring symbol of the brand, favored for its clarity, recognizability, and cross-border appeal.
- 1927: The blue oval with the Ford script is established as Ford’s primary emblem and begins appearing on vehicles, dealer signage, and branding materials.
- Mid-20th century: The shade of blue, border thickness, and shading are refined to align with evolving production methods and printing technologies.
- Late 1990s–2000s: Digital rendering prompts further simplification and refinement, balancing legibility across screens and print.
- 2013–present: A global branding refresh preserves the core oval and script while standardizing appearance across markets and media outlets.
In practical terms, Ford’s logo has remained visually consistent for nearly a century, with adjustments concentrated in color tone, depth, and reproduction rather than a complete redesign.
Current branding practice and context
Today, Ford relies on the blue oval as its defining symbol across vehicles, showrooms, advertising, and digital platforms. The emblem's enduring presence supports brand continuity in a highly competitive market and across global markets where the Ford name carries different cultural associations.
Brand managers note that the logo must perform in diverse contexts—from small digital icons to large-scale signage—so the company intentionally preserves its core look while allowing for context-appropriate renderings. This approach helps Ford maintain visual consistency while remaining adaptable to new media and technologies.
Recent refinements and media adaptations
While the core design remains the same, Ford has experimented with how the oval is presented in marketing and on digital channels. In practice, this has meant employing flatter, more universally legible renderings for screens and ensuring the emblem maintains strong visibility on modern vehicles, where varying lighting and angles can affect perception.
Overall, the brand’s strategy has balanced reverence for a century-old symbol with the need to stay relevant as branding channels evolved, from print ads to social media and in-vehicle displays.
Summary
Ford’s blue oval with the white script has been the company’s emblem since 1927, meaning the logo has endured for roughly 98 years as of 2025. While the shape and script have remained constant, the look has seen subtle refinements in color, depth, and rendering to suit changing production techniques and media. The emblem’s longevity underscores Ford’s emphasis on brand continuity and recognition worldwide.
Has Ford ever changed their logo?
Yes, Ford quietly updated its logo in late 2023, debuting on the 2024 F-150. The new design is a modernized, simplified version of the classic "blue oval" that removes the thin silver oval outline, enlarges the white "Ford" script, and replaces the chrome border with a simple white finish. The change makes the logo look flatter and more 2D, while still maintaining its iconic shape.
- Old vs. New: The previous logo had a chrome surround and a thinner silver outline within the blue oval.
- New Logo Features: The updated emblem has a more minimalist design with a simple white border, larger white script, and a flatter, two-dimensional appearance.
- Reasoning: Ford chose to keep the design familiar but updated it to a more modern and simpler look that aligns with current design trends.
- Rollout: The updated logo was first seen on the 2024 F-150, and it is expected to be applied to other Ford models in the future, though the timeline for a full rollout is not yet clear.
When did Ford change their emblem?
1912
The art nouveau border that was included on the logo was very fashionable at the time. The script that was written in this elongated form was known as the "script with wings". It was used up until 1912, when the current font that we can see today on Ford vehicles was born.
Was the model A or T first?
The original Ford Model A came first in 1903. The more famous and long-running Model T was introduced later in 1908. A new Model A was then released in 1927 as the successor to the Model T, which can cause confusion between the two models.
- First Model A (1903): The very first car produced by the Ford Motor Company was a Model A, which was sold until 1904.
- Model T (1908): Following a series of other models, Henry Ford introduced the Model T, which became a massive success and was produced until 1927.
- New Model A (1927): When production of the Model T ended, Ford started the alphabet over for the new model, calling it the Model A to represent a rebirth for the company. This second Model A was produced until 1932.
Has Ford always had the same logo?
Ford's logo font:
Some form of the current Ford logo font has been with the brand since 1909. This font is unique to Ford and inspired by Ford's founder, Henry Ford's handwriting.
