Plant in Russia initially producing Ford Model A and AAs thereby playing an impo

rtant role in the industrialisation of that country.[13]

The creation of a scientific laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan in 1951, doing unf
ettered basic research, led to Ford's unlikely involvement in superconductivity
research. In 1964, Ford Research Labs made a key breakthrough with the invention
of a superconducting quantum interference device or SQUID.[14]
Ford offered the Lifeguard safety package from 1956, which included such innovat
ions as a standard deep-dish steering wheel, optional front, and, for the first
time in a car, rear seatbelts, and an optional padded dash.[15] Ford introduced
child-proof door locks into its products in 1957, and, in the same year, offered
the first retractable hardtop on a mass-produced six-seater car.Plant in Russia
initially producing Ford Model A and AAs thereby playing an important role in t
he industrialisation of that country.[13]
The creation of a scientific laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan in 1951, doing unf
ettered basic research, led to Ford's unlikely involvement in superconductivity
research. In 1964, Ford Research Labs made a key breakthrough with the invention
of a superconducting quantum interference device or SQUID.[14]
Ford offered the Lifeguard safety package from 1956, which included such innovat
ions as a standard deep-dish steering wheel, optional front, and, for the first
time in a car, rear seatbelts, and an optional padded dash.[15] Ford introduced
child-proof door locks into its products in 1957, and, in the same year, offered
the first retractable hardtop on a mass-produced six-seater car.The Ford Escape
Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid are the gasoline-electric hybrid powered vers
ions that launched in the U.S. in 2004 for the 2005 model year. Built in Kansas
City, Missouri, it was the first hybrid SUV to hit the market. The Ford Escape H
ybrid was the first American-built hybrid and the first hybrid vehicle from an A
merican automaker, joined by the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrids during t
he same model year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the first
generation Ford Escape Hybrid is 70% more efficient than the regular Escape. The
Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a rebadged version of the Escape Hybrid. It features
revised front-end styling and a more luxurious interior.
The Ford Mustang was introduced in 1964. In 1965, Ford introduced the seat belt
reminder light.
With the 19vbvbvbvb80s, Ford introduced several highly successful vehicles aroun
d the world. During the 1980s, Ford began using the advertising slogan, "Have yo
u driven a Ford, lately?" to introduce new customers to their brand and make the
ir vehicles appear more modern. In 1990 and 1994 respectively, Ford also acquire
d Jaguar Cars and Aston Martin.[16] During the mid- to late 1990s, Ford continue
d to sell large numbers of vehicles, in a booming American economy with a soarin
g stock market and low fuel prices.
With the dawn of the new century, legacy healthcare costs, higher fuel prices, a
nd a faltering economy led to falling market shares, declining sales, and dimini
shed profit margins. Most of the corporate profits came from financing consumer
automobile loans through Ford Motor Credit Company.[17]