What happened to Ford civilian car production on February 10, 1942?
Ford halted civilian car production on February 10, 1942, redirecting factories toward war production as the United States mobilized for World War II.
Context: War mobilization and Ford's role
In the wake of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States stepped up wartime production. Ford, like other automakers, faced government pressure to convert plants to military output. By February 1942, Ford publicly announced that civilian automobile production would be suspended to accelerate war production.
Immediate impact on production lines
Auto assembly lines across Ford’s facilities were repurposed for military components, trucks, engines, and aircraft-related work. The shift laid the groundwork for Ford's expanded role in bomber and war-material manufacturing.
What happened on February 10, 1942
The company declared a comprehensive retooling of its factories to prioritize the war effort. Beginning that day, Ford's production focused on military materiel rather than passenger cars, with major plants at Dearborn and other sites redirected to support trucks, engines, aircraft components, and other war goods. The Willow Run operation, in particular, would become a major site for bomber production as the war progressed.
Key consequences for Ford and the broader war effort included:
- Complete or near-complete cessation of civilian passenger-car production at Ford’s major assembly facilities.
- Redeployment of workers from car assembly to military production, affecting employment patterns and wartime labor logistics.
- Acceleration of Ford's involvement in aviation manufacturing, notably at Willow Run, and expansion of heavy-truck and engine output for military use.
These changes reflected a broader national pivot: consumer goods production gave way to materiel manufacturing as the United States geared up for a sustained war effort.
Scope and timeline
While Ford moved to halt civilian car production on February 10, 1942, the company’s transition unfolded over weeks and months, with different plants retooling at varying paces. The broader strategy aligned with the War Production Board's priorities and Ford's contracts to supply military vehicles and aircraft components.
Additional context and ongoing impact
Ford's war effort extended beyond cars and trucks: it produced components for bombers and other military equipment, and its plants became models for other automakers converting to defense production. The shift also influenced workers, supply chains, and the communities around Ford plants as civilian manufacturing declined during the war years.
Summary
Ford’s February 10, 1942 decision marked a turning point in American industrial history: civilian car production stopped and the company pivoted to war-related manufacturing, aligning with national priorities and accelerating the United States’ wartime industrial output.
Why did the U.S. stop producing cars in 1942?
Chairman of the War Production Board, Donald Nelson, ordered the prohibition of all production of automobiles and light trucks after Feb. 2. The order was approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the intention to reorganize machinery for war production.
Did Ford stop making cars during WWII?
Ford stopped building civilian vehicles in 1942 and turned its attention to the massive job of producing armaments to support the Allied war effort. Ford was certainly not alone in this endeavor. Detroit's Big Three automakers led the way with help from companies across the country.
What happened on 12 February 1942?
February 12, 1942 (Thursday)
The Battle of Bukit Timah ended in Japanese victory. The British destroyer HMS Maori was bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe in the Malta Grand Harbour.
Did Ford make any cars in 1942?
Ford made 691,455 automobiles in 1941. Yet they only built around 160,000 vehicles for civilians in 1942, before Ford's non-military car and truck lines ceased operations on February 10.
