Ford Motor

Ford Motor Co. Rolls Out Aluminum-Bodied F-150 In Factory Henry Ford Built
A 2015 Ford Motor Co. F150 truck moves along the production line at the company's Dearborn Truck Assembly facility in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. At Ford Motor Co.'s Rouge factory, where Henry Ford began building Model A cars almost 90 years ago, the automaker today officially began manufacturing an advanced, aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup, its top selling and most profitable model. Photographer: Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Jeff Kowalsky — Bloomberg via Getty Images

    Bill Ford, Ford Motor’s executive chairman, declared a “clean revolution” back in 1999. His great-grandfather’s company was the first American carmaker to bring a hybrid to market—a version of the Ford Escape, in 2004. Now Ford is experimenting with an industry first: changing the body of its monumentally popular F-150 pickup (the bestselling vehicle in the U.S. for more than three decades and counting) to aluminum from steel. The change shaves 700 pounds off the weight of each truck and gives it the lowest environmental impact of any pickup, after considering energy spent in manufacturing and the lifetime use of the vehicle, reports the Automotive Science Group. When compared with the 2014 model, says ASG, the new F-150s—which can be outfitted with a remarkably efficient engine—should save more than 30 billion pounds of greenhouse-gas emissions over their lifetimes, based on sales to date. And drivers seem to be falling in love with the truck too. In July alone, 66,300 F-series trucks flew off the lot. Industry experts say that other truckmakers, including GM, are weighing a similar move to aluminum alloys. But for now Ford is out front and alone. Marvels one official at the U.S. EPA: The F-150 is already close to meeting the nation’s newly strict mileage standards … for 2025.

    Company Info

    SectorIndustrials
    IndustryMotor Vehicles
    CountryU.S.
    Revenues ($ millions)144,077
    Company typePublic
    CEOMark Fields
    Websitewww.ford.com
    Impact SegmentEnvironmental Impact

    Fortune Rankings

    Fortune 500 Rank9
    Fortune 500 Profilefortune.com/fortune500/ford-motor-9
    Most Powerful Women Rank-
    Most Powerful Women Profile-
    World's Greatest Leaders Rank-
    World's Greatest Leaders Profile-