Ford Argentina S.C.A. is the Argentine subsidiary of Ford Motor Company founded in Buenos Aires in 1913.Historia de Ford en Argentina on AutoHistoria (archived, 3 Sep 2019) Its first products were Model Ts assembled from complete knock down (CKD) kits provided by Ford Motor Company in 1917.1932 Ford T on Journey America (archived, 10 Aug 2014) Nevertheless, Ford Motor Argentina is best known in more recent times for producing the Ford Focus and, previously, the Argentine version of the Ford Falcon,Historia del Ford Falcon on TodoFalcon website originally a U.S. model introduced in Argentina in 1961, but adapted to the Argentine market.
In South America, Ford's primary operations are in Brazil, Argentina and Ford Andina.Ford Automotive Operations – Latin America (archived, 17 June 2001) (Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador) Ford employs over 18,000 people and operates seven assembly or other plants in the region.Sustainability Report 2006-07 on Ford.com (archived, 9 Feb 2008)
History
In 1913, Ford entered the Argentine market, and in 1916, Buenos Aires became home to the first assembly operation of Ford products in Latin America and the second worldwide after Ford of Britain. Dismantled cars were assembled in Argentina at the plant on Herrera Street, in the Barracas neighborhood of Buenos Aires. That same year, the parent company invested US$240,000 for the construction of an assembly plant in La Boca, another neighborhood of Buenos Aires. In 1922 the plant was inaugurated with the production of the model T,Los hitos de los 100 años de historia de Ford en Argentina on Cars Magazine, 18 Nov 2013 which was imported and assembled locally with a 20% parts manufactured in Argentina. By 1927, 100,000 units had been produced in Argentina. That same year the model A was launched.
At the time, the products reached customers through a network of 285 dealers. The administrative staff and the personnel of paid workers came to 400. Later, and due to the rising demand the plant was enlarged, coming its staff to 1,500 people.Los primeros años on Ford Argentina, 21 Aug 2020
In 1939, with the Second World War outbreak, the importation of vehicles and components was closed. The production was restricted to finishing the units with the available material, but the increasing lack of basic supplies for the production forced to stop the activity. During this time, Ford manufactured batteries and it attended its clients with the sale of spare parts and car accessories made in local repair shops. Later, this would give rise to the beginning of the Argentine auto part industry. The first Ford trucks were imported to Argentina in 1930.
After the WWII concluded, Ford Argentina restarted activities at La Boca in late 1946, but production was interrupted again in 1948, which remained until 1957. In 1959, the company started production of the first commercial vehicles, F-series pickups, F-600 trucks, and chassis for B-600 colectivos.Marcas de autos fabricados en Argentina | Ford on AutoHistoria The former "Ford Motor Argentina S.A." was incorporated in 1959. The F-600 medium-duty trucks were also produced by then. One year later, the company started to build a new assembly plant in General Pacheco, Buenos Aires Province to increase its capacity of production. The General Pacheco Assembly Plant was officially inaugurated in 1961. It has a surface area of 252,000 m2 covered (out of 1,308,000 m2 total).
The first vehicle to be produced at General Pacheco was the Falcon in 1962. The offer expanded with the Fairlane, released in 1969 and targeted to the luxury car market. Nevertheless, the 1973 oil crisisSmith, Charles D. (2006), Palestine and the Arab–Israeli Conflict, New York: Bedford, p. 329. and its consequences (such as the increase of prices more than 300%) forced manufacturers to produce smaller and low fuel consumption vehicles. Therefore, in 1974 Ford launched the Taunus (a mid-size car originally designed by Ford Germany), the first European-based car to be produced by Ford Argentina.Cronologia del Ford Taurus en Nuestro País on Club Taunus Argentina In 1979 the Falcon became Argentina's top selling car with 28,522 units sold, accomplishment repeated six times. In 1982, Ford had a 38% share in the Argentina market.
Ford Argentina opened a truck assembly and paint plant in 1982. One year later, the Taunus n° 1,000,000 was produced at General Pacheco. In 1984, Ford Argentina launched the Sierra, another mid-size designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Bob Lutz, and Patrick le Quément for Ford Europe.Ford Sierra|Features on The Independent, 6 November 2007
In 1987, AutoLatina Argentina, a joint venture formed by the merger of Ford Motor Argentina and Volkswagen Argentina, was established. Each brand maintained their own corporate image, the marketing and sales structures, as well as independent dealerships and service shops. All other departments were consolidated, allowing significant cost cutting, but also cutting the workforce almost in half. Sales figures and profitability were disappointing and the joint venture was dissolved in 1994, and on 1 January 1995, Ford Argentina S.A. was reestablished. Under the Autolatina separation plans, Ford became sole owner of the Pacheco plant (Volkswagen acquired the existing truck plant and converted it for car assembly).
Ford incorporated the production of Escort (European version) and Ranger pickup models. In December 1996, all Ford Argentina plants and the Customer Assistance Division obtained ISO 9002 certification while in 1998 Ford reached 2,000,000 vehicles produced. In April 1999, the Pacheco Assembly Plant obtained ISO 14001 certification.
In 1999 the production of the Focus, a successful Ford global model, started at the Gral. Pacheco Plant. The Focus was honored as the "Car of the Year" in Argentina by two different councils of journalists.
In 2000, Ford held 14.9% of the market share, ranking second in the market. Market participation was 13.4% in cars and 18.9% in trucks; where Ford maintains leadership, production volume was 56.300 units. Ford ranked first among automotive manufacturers regarding exports. By then, only the Focus and Ranger models were produced in the plant.
In 2007, Ford had 12.8% market share, ranking third after Peugeot-Citroën [PCA] (28.5%) and General Motors (20.5%) with a production volume of over 64.000 units.Argentina on BuyUSA (archived, 3 Nov 2008) The company also invested US$156.5m in the Pacheco facilityArgentina: Ford to invest US$156.5m in Pacheco facility at Automotive World.com (archived, Oct 11, 2007)
In 2018, two former executives were convicted over kidnapping and torture of company workers during the Argentinian dictatorship in 1976–1983. The men were sentenced to 10 and 12 years.Argentina: two ex-Ford executives convicted in torture case, The Guardian, 2018.Former Ford Argentina executives sentenced in torture cases, AP News, 2018.
The increasing interest of consumers towards other type of vehicles (like SUVs) forced Ford Argentina to stop production of the Focus model in 2019.Los operarios de Ford Argentina despidieron al Focus y enviaron un mensaje al Gobierno by Carlos Cristaldo on Motor1, 5 May 2019 It has been the last sedan to be produced by Ford in Argentina since then. As of 2022, only the Ranger pickup is produced at General Pacheco plant.
Produced models The list includes Ford models assembled, manufactured, and imported in Argentina, in chronological order:Producción de Ford en Argentina on AutoHistoria
Current models Name Image Ranger Pickup truck 1996–present
Past models Name Image Model T Economy 1917–28 Model A Full-size 1928–32 F-100/150 Pickup truck 1959–97 F-600/700"Ford F-600 (1961-1990)" on Camión Argentino, 12 Aug 2014 Truck 1961–92 F-350/400/500 Medium-duty truck 1961–92 Falcon Sedan / station wagon 1962–91 Fairlane Mid-size 1969–81 Falcon Ranchero Coupé utility 1973–91 Taunus Mid-size 1974–83 Sierra Mid-size 1984–93 Escort C-segment 1987–2002 Orion C-segment 1994–97 Focus Compact 1999–2019 Cargo Truck 1999–2000 Notes
Imported models
Laser (1981–83) Galaxy (1992–96) Fiesta (1995–2019) Ka (1997–2021)La historia del Ford K en Argentina, Parabrisas, 9 Mar 2016 Cargo (1998-2019) Mondeo (1999–2022)Ford Mondeo: una historia que empezó antes del Mondeo by Hernando Calaza on Auto Cosmos, 29 Jan 2020Adiós al Ford Mondeo: la planta española de Almussafes finalizó su producción, 10 Apr 2022 EcoSport (2003–2022)Así probábabmos al EcoSport, Parabrisas, 7 Jun 2020 Kuga (2017–2026)Lanzamiento: Ford Kuga, Autoblog, 20 Dec 2016 Mustang (1967–present)La Leyenda Que Cambió Más Que Una Forma de Conducir, El Ford Mustang, Ford Argentina, 18 Apr 2020 Transit (1997–present)Lanzamiento: Ford Transit Van Mediana de techo bajo y Minibús on 16Valvulas.com, 23 Mar 2018 Territory (2020–present)Lanzamiento: Ford Territory, Autoblog, 7 Aug 2020 F-150 Raptor (2020–present)Lanzamiento: Ford F-150 Raptor on Autoblog, 8 Jan 2020 Bronco (2020–present)Se presentó el nuevo Ford Bronco y Bronco Sport at Parabrisas, 13 Jul 2020 S-MAX (2010–19)Ford S-MAX on 16 Valvulas, 4 Oct 2010 Maverick (2022–present)Lanzamiento: Ford Maverick on Autoblog, 4 Nov 2021 Granada (Europe) (1979–81)Granadas alemanes on Archivos de autos, 10 Jun 2012Other imported models Mustang (third generation)(1980–1990) Fairmont (1980-81) Everest (2026–Present) Mustang Mach E (2023–Present) Taunus 17m (1961–62) Courier (1998–2010) v8 (1938–39) Bronco (Third generation) (1980–82) Escape (2001–03) Notes
References
External links