When did Ford switch to metric?
The company did not switch on a single date. Ford’s move to metric units was a gradual, multi‑decade process that began in the 1960s and became widespread by the 1990s, as part of a broader push toward global standardization. Today, metric is the default in engineering and manufacturing across Ford’s global operations, with regional adaptations for consumer-facing communications.
What follows is a closer look at how Ford moved from inches and feet toward the metric system, why the change happened, and what it means for the company’s operations today.
Context and drivers of the shift
Several forces spurred Ford’s transition to metric measurement. Global supply chains, European and Asian markets, and government policies all pushed automakers to adopt a common set of standards. The Metrication Act era in the United States and international procurement requirements meant that engine designs, parts catalogs, and manufacturing processes increasingly used millimeters, kilograms, and newtons to ensure compatibility and quality across borders.
Below is an outline of how the transition unfolded over time, with a focus on phases rather than a single turning point.
Milestones and timeline of Ford’s metrication efforts
- 1960s: Early use of metric in design and engineering for export-oriented parts and systems; CAD/CAM and supplier interfaces began incorporating metric measurements to improve international interoperability.
- 1970s: Growing emphasis on global compatibility; Ford formalized metric standards in engineering documentation and began aligning manufacturing practices with metric dimensions in anticipation of international markets.
- Early 1980s: Corporate emphasis on metric dimensions for product development and supplier interfaces; several programs adopted metric as the default language of design.
- 1990s: Widespread adoption across global product development and manufacturing; European, Asian, and other plants operated primarily in metric, with U.S. operations integrating metric into engineering drawings and parts catalogs as a standard practice.
- 2000s–present: Metrication largely complete for engineering and manufacturing; internal systems and supplier networks run on metric. Marketing and consumer communications may still present some measurements in familiar units in certain markets, but product specifications and up‑stream processes are metric.
In practice, the shift was about aligning Ford’s products and processes with a global ecosystem of suppliers, regulators, and customers, rather than a single national mandate.
Regional differences inside Ford’s global footprint
As a multinational automaker, Ford’s move to metric manifested differently across regions and business units. The eventual result was a broadly metric culture in engineering and manufacturing, with localized nuances in how information reached customers and how data was presented in marketing materials.
- Global engineering and supply chain: Metric is the default for drawings, tolerances, BOMs, and CAD/CAM workflows to ensure cross-border compatibility and supplier interoperability.
- North America operations: Engineering practices transitioned to metric, but some legacy processes and marketing materials historically included customary units. Today, metric-based specifications are standard in design and production, with metric equivalents provided for reference where needed.
- Export markets and overseas plants: Vehicle dimensions, component specifications, and test procedures are predominantly metric to align with international standards and regulations.
Overall, the industry view is that Ford’s metrication supports smoother global production and easier collaboration with international suppliers, while consumer-facing measurements may still reflect local expectations in some markets.
Current status and implications
Today, Ford relies on metric as the baseline for engineering, design, and manufacturing across its global operations. The internal tools, technical documentation, and supplier networks are built around metric units, enabling consistent quality and interoperability. In many markets, consumer information and marketing materials provide metric figures as the primary reference, with conversions offered for convenience where appropriate.
For customers and observers, this means Ford’s products are designed and built with a consistent international framework, even as the way information is presented to shoppers adapts to regional preferences. The shift has not only streamlined production but also supported Ford’s ability to coordinate with a global network of suppliers, partners, and regulators.
Summary
Ford’s switch to metric was not a single event but a long-running transition that started in the 1960s and matured through the 1980s and 1990s, with ongoing refinement into the 2000s and beyond. The result is a predominantly metric engineering and manufacturing environment that underpins Ford’s global operations, while consumer communications in some markets may still show customary units alongside metric references.
Which president tried to switch to metric?
President Gerald Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, which was an attempt to switch the United States to the metric system, though the act made the conversion voluntary. The act declared metric as the "preferred system" for trade and commerce, but public resistance and the voluntary nature of the conversion ultimately stalled the full transition, as noted by Time Magazine.
- The Metric Conversion Act: In 1975, Congress passed the act, and Ford signed it into law. It aimed to coordinate a national conversion to the metric system.
- The goal: The hope was to make the U.S. an "island in a metric sea".
- The result: The conversion was voluntary, and while it made some headway in areas like the packaging of products (leading to liter-sized soda bottles) and certain industries, it never became a full national switch.
- Ford's successor: President Jimmy Carter supported the efforts, and President Ronald Reagan later disbanded the U.S. Metric Board, which was tasked with overseeing the conversion, according to CNN and Quora.
When did the US officially switch to metric?
Congress included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the Omnibus Foreign Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as "the Preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce".
When did Ford switch to metric bolts?
It was late 1970s. The 1981 Ram Program (F Series freshening) was designed in Metric starting in about 1978.... It took a while for powertrain to go metric. I had to go out an buy a few 18mm combination wrenches as Ford Chassis decided that was the size bolt head the chassis engineers decided to use...
When did American cars switch to metric?
American cars didn't have a single switch to metric; instead, it was a gradual process that began in the late 1970s and was largely complete by the mid-1990s. The transition was driven by global standardization and began with partial metric components, with new vehicle designs and engine sizes eventually becoming fully metric by the 1990s.
Key phases of the transition:
- Late 1970s: US automakers started incorporating some metric parts, partly due to government initiatives and the influence of imported cars. The first largely metric production cars, like the Chevrolet Chevette, appeared during this time.
- 1980s: Many vehicles, especially US-built trucks and cars, showed a mix of both metric and standard (SAE) components. This was a period of slow phasing-in, with new models and engine designs gradually becoming more metric.
- 1990s: By the middle of the decade, metric measurements had largely taken over the design and manufacturing of new vehicles. Engine displacements were commonly advertised in liters, and most fasteners and other components were metric, reflecting the global automotive market.
