Friday Nov 08, 2024
FT
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Friday, 21 June 2013 04:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
2013 is a particularly special year for Ford as it celebrates both its 110th anniversary as a company and the 150th birthday of its founder, Henry Ford.
Future automobiles transformed their showroom into a Ford history exhibition space, where customers can revisit the early days of Ford Motor Company and learn about how Henry Ford, a single man with a vision, built a global car company that opened the highways and the world to all mankind.
As the centrepiece Future Automobiles displays a magnificent Model T truck which rolled out form the world’s fist moving assembly line.
Ford’s heritage in Sri Lanka is almost as rich as the Sri Lankan automotive industry itself. The first Ford vehicles arrived in Sri Lanka around 1915 and it is a community with great love and affection for quality automobiles. While Ford re-entered the market in 2011, Sri Lankan customers have been quick to notice that Ford cars set the standards in terms of safety, innovation, fuel efficiency and performance.
Future Automobiles plan to open an State of the art Sales and After Sales complex with an investment of Rs. 200 m later in the year offering world class dealership experience to Sri Lankan customers.
“We take great pride in the special relationships we have with our employees, our suppliers and in our enduring relationships with our valued customers,” said Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of Future Automobiles. “Nowhere is that sense of special family more prevalent than in Ford’s dealership family in Sri Lanka and today we want to recognise Ford’s place in our history and our future.”
Putting the world on wheels
On 16 June 1903, 110 years ago, Henry Ford and 11 original investors signed incorporation papers to form Ford Motor Company, starting with a dream, $ 28,000 in cash, some blue prints and tools.
Ford’s dream – to build a car “so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one” – took off with the introduction of the Model T, the car for the great multitude. The Model T was literally the automobile that put the world on wheels.
“Today Ford is the world’s second largest automaker and the Ford oval is one of the three most recognized symbols in the world,” said David Westerman, regional director, Asia Pacific, Ford Export & Growth Operations.
“However in terms of the basics, not much has changed since Ford’s humble beginnings – we still design innovative vehicles at the best value, hold customer satisfaction as our number one priority and believe our people are our greatest asset as we get ready to serve customers for another 110 years,” said Westerman.
Well into its second century today, Ford Motor Company is now revolutionising the auto industry around the globe with models that continually set the benchmark in their segment, such as the best-selling truck in the world, the F-Series; one of the best-selling SUVs in the world, the Ford Escape/Kuga; and 2012’s best-selling car in the world, the all-new Ford Focus.
“With almost 100 years of history, among the best dealer networks in Sri Lanka and an array of brand new products and service initiatives underway, I trust Ford’s next future will be filled with nothing but success stories here in Sri Lanka,” concluded Westerman.
