Ford, a global American brand woven into the fabric of Europe for more than 100 years, is committed to freedom of movement that goes hand-in-hand with looking after the planet and each other. The company’s Ford+ plan, with Model e, Ford Pro and the Ford Blue business units is accelerating its European transformation to an all-electric and carbon neutral future by 2035. The company is driving forward with bold, new EVs, each one designed with European drivers in mind and innovating with services to help people connect, communities grow, and businesses thrive.
In Ireland, Ford has a long history, starting in 1917 when Henry Ford came back to Cork, his father’s ancestral home city, to set up a factory on the Marina. Henry Ford & Son Ltd., the company that he set up, went on to produce tractors and cars all through the following decades, right up to 1984 when the factory was closed. From the 1920s until the 1950s, the Ford factory was the largest employer in the state, at its height there were 7,000 employees.
During its years of operation, the Ford factory produced every key Ford model through the decades. The official name for Ford in Ireland is still Henry Ford & Son Ltd. and it is still headquartered in Cork. The company is already well advanced on its journey towards electrification with the full electric Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit on sale in Ireland. The company also has a range of Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) and mild hybrid cars and commercial vehicles on sale here. During 2024, Ford will launch the all-electric Ford Explorer, mid-size SUV, along with three other all electric passenger vehicles including a full electric version of the Ford Puma, compact SUV. The full electrification of the company’s Transit line up will take place over the next year to eighteen months
