When did Ford and Lincoln split?
The short answer is: Lincoln became part of Ford in 1922 when Ford Motor Company purchased the Lincoln Motor Company, and since then Lincoln has operated as Ford’s luxury brand with no formal split.
To understand the question more fully, it helps to know that Lincoln began as an independent automaker in the 1910s and was absorbed into Ford in 1922. The core dynamic people refer to as a “split” is really about the acquisition that folded Lincoln into Ford rather than a later legal separation. This article traces that history and explains the current relationship between Ford and the Lincoln brand.
Historical background
The following milestones highlight how Lincoln moved from an independent company to a brand within Ford Motor Company:
- 1917 — Lincoln Motor Company is founded by Henry M. Leland in Detroit to produce luxury automobiles.
- 1922 — Ford Motor Company purchases Lincoln Motor Company for about $8 million; Lincoln becomes Ford’s luxury brand and remains so today.
- Mid-20th century onward — Lincoln evolves under Ford as a distinct premium division, developing its own styling and model lineup while sharing resources with Ford.
These milestones establish that the “split” in question refers to the 1922 acquisition, after which Lincoln operated within Ford rather than as a separate independent automaker.
Current corporate arrangement
Today, Lincoln remains a brand under Ford Motor Company. In recent years, Ford has pursued a strategic internal reorganization that groups operations into units such as Model e (electric vehicles), Ford Blue (internal-combustion and legacy vehicles), and Ford Pro (commercial vehicles). These structural changes aim to improve agility, but they do not constitute a formal separation of Ford from Lincoln as a legal entity.
- Model e — Ford’s electric-vehicle division, guiding EV development for Ford and the Lincoln brand as it evolves.
- Ford Blue — The internal-combustion and legacy-vehicle segment within Ford’s corporate structure.
- Ford Pro — Commercial-vehicles unit focused on professional customers.
In short, there has been no legal split between Ford and Lincoln. Lincoln remains Ford’s luxury brand, while Ford’s corporate structure continues to adapt to a changing automotive landscape.
Summary
Summary: Lincoln originated as an independent automaker in 1917 and was acquired by Ford in 1922, after which it functioned as Ford’s luxury division. There has been no formal split since. In the 2020s, Ford reorganized its operations into distinct units to pursue electrification and other strategic goals, but Lincoln remains a brand under Ford Motor Company rather than a separate company.
