Ford of Europe, 1967-2003

Abstract

The analysis of economic and financial results of Ford of Europe since the creation of this coordination structure in 1967 allows us to distinguish two periods. In a first time, until the end of the eighties, Ford took a strong advantage from the successful integration of its European activities. In a second time, since 1990, the automaker got some reversal of fortune on the old continent. Explanatory factors of that general evolution are searched in the history of the Ford of Europe’s governance, of its products strategies, and of its management of industrial resources from 1967 to 1993. We defend the idea that after the exhaustion of the favourable dynamic of its continental integration, Ford of Europe has been experiencing an identity crisis which was linked to a radical change of its operational context resulting from the globalisation strategies of Ford Motor Company.Ford, Automobile Industry, Europe, Multinational Firms, Regional Integration, Globalisation Strategies