The Ford Motor Company is bigger than you might think. In the year between 1903 and 2014, the company has developed into a multinational conglomerate. In addition to manufacturing vehicles and auto parts under the Ford, Lincoln and Motorcraft brands, both the automotive and financial services sectors have a variety of subsidiaries and associations in North America, South America, Europe and 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific-Africa region.
Automotive Subsidiaries
Ford’s global automotive subsidiaries manufacture and sell vehicles. These include Ford Australia, Ford do Brasil and Ford of Europe, Canada, Argentina, India, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. In addition, Ford has associations with businesses in these and other countries, most of which support different steps in the manufacturing process. An association differs from a subsidiary in that although Ford has an interest in each company, it owns less than 50 percent of the stock. Different locations support parts metal stamping, casting and forging, engine assembly and vehicle assembly processes.
Technology-Based Subsidiaries
Ford owns 100 percent of the stock of Ford Global Technologies and Livio Software. Although both serve the public, these companies also serve Ford directly by providing mission-critical products and services. Ford Global Technologies manages all of Ford’s intellectual property, while a separate division markets and sells technologies such as engineering standards and specifications, training materials and intellectual property to the public. Livio, which Ford purchased in September 2013, develops software that allows drivers to connect and use their smartphones in a vehicle.
Financing and Insurance
Ford Motor Credit Company LLC offers financing and insurance products to consumers and Ford dealerships. Consumer-side products include auto insurance, leases for new vehicles and installment sales contracts for both new and used vehicles. Dealership products include floor plan financing, and real estate, working capital and facilities renovation loan programs. Ford Holdings LLC offers insurance products through Associates First Capital Corporation and the American Road Insurance Company. USL Capital Corporation provides business-to-business lease and financing options.
Real Estate Development
The Ford Motor Land Development Corporation is a second-tier, global subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company and Ford Holdings LLC. In the continental United States, Ford Land owns the Michigan-based Fairlane master-planned community, and provides corporate real estate, planning and engineering, project management, facility management, asset management, energy and dealership design services in a number of states. Ford Land also serves as a global, full-service real estate company, providing services such as planning, construction and property development and management.
