Is GM owned by Ford?
No. General Motors (GM) is not owned by Ford. GM and Ford Motor Company are separate, publicly traded automakers with independent ownership structures, and there is no cross-ownership between the two.
In practical terms, both companies are owned by a broad base of investors rather than a single owner or another company. Ford does not own GM, and GM does not own Ford. The two entities compete in the market while operating as distinct corporate bodies.
Current ownership landscape
The following points provide a concise snapshot of who actually owns these two companies today.
Ownership is dynamic and changes as shares are bought and sold, but the core relationship remains constant: both GM and Ford are publicly traded with dispersed ownership and no controlling stake by one company over the other.
- General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor Company are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the tickers GM and F, respectively.
- There is no single owner of GM; ownership is spread among thousands of institutional and retail shareholders. The same is true for Ford.
- Ford does not own GM, and GM does not own Ford. Each company operates as an independent corporate entity with its own board and management.
- GM previously received government support during the 2009 financial crisis, resulting in a temporary government stake. That stake was fully divested by 2013, returning GM to private ownership.
In short, the two automakers remain separate entities with ownership dispersed among many investors, and Ford has no ownership stake in GM.
Historical context
The bailout era and government stake in GM
During the 2009-2010 period, GM underwent a government-backed restructuring that included a temporary majority stake held by the U.S. government. By 2013, the Treasury had sold its remaining GM shares, and GM has since been owned by private investors.
What this means for investors and consumers
For investors, ownership in GM or Ford reflects exposure to independently managed automotive companies whose fortunes are shaped by market conditions, product cycles, and strategic decisions, not by cross-ownership between the two. For consumers, this separation means that pricing, warranties, and service are determined by each company on its own behalf.
Summary
GM and Ford are separate, publicly traded companies with dispersed ownership. Ford does not own GM, and GM does not own Ford. The notable historical cross-border factor was GM's government bailout period, which ended in 2013, after which GM returned to private ownership. Today, both companies' fortunes depend on their own leadership, products, and market performance.
