Who makes Ford Motor Company?
Ford Motor Company is a publicly traded corporation; no single individual owns it outright. The Ford family maintains controlling voting power through privately held Class B shares, while public investors own the majority of the company’s equity. Day-to-day management is led by a professional executive team under a board that mixes family members with independent directors.
Founding and ownership structure
Ford was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and a group of investors, and it grew into a global automobile maker with a distinctive two-class share arrangement. Today, ownership is split between the publicly traded Class A shares and privately held Class B shares that confer the majority of voting rights to the Ford family.
Before listing, here is a snapshot of how ownership and control are arranged today:
- The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker F for its Class A shares.
- The Ford family retains controlling voting power through privately held Class B shares, which are not publicly traded.
- Other institutional and individual investors hold the remaining public equity, providing broad ownership but limited voting influence.
- There is no single owner; governance is concentrated in the Ford family via Class B shares, supported by a board that includes both family members and independent directors.
Taken together, these arrangements mean Ford operates as a public company with widespread ownership but continued family-led governance that shapes strategic direction and long-term goals.
Leadership and governance
The leadership structure at Ford blends family involvement with professional management. The top roles include the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board, backed by a global management team and a board designed to balance continuity with new perspectives. As of 2024, the CEO is Jim Farley, and the Chairman of the Board is William Clay Ford Jr. (Bill Ford). The board comprises both Ford family members and independent directors to oversee strategy, risk, and performance.
In practice, this arrangement allows day-to-day operations to be run by a seasoned executive team while preserving family stewardship over long-term strategy and corporate culture.
Henry Ford’s legacy and the company’s evolution
Henry Ford founded the company in Detroit in 1903, revolutionizing manufacturing with mass production and helping shape the modern automotive industry. Over more than a century, Ford has grown into a multinational automaker with a broad lineup and a strategic push into electrification, software, and mobility services. Today’s leadership continues the balance between innovation and a governance framework designed to preserve family oversight alongside professional management.
Summary
Ford Motor Company is a public company with dispersed equity, but the Ford family retains controlling voting power through privately held Class B shares. Its leadership combines family oversight with professional management, led by CEO Jim Farley and Chairman William C. Ford Jr., supported by a diverse board. The company traces its origins to Henry Ford, whose vision built a lasting enterprise that remains a major force in global automotive manufacturing.
