100 Years of Ford in Germany: From Berlin to Cologne

It was exactly 100 years ago: On August 18, 1925, the Ford Motor Company was officially registered in the commercial register in Berlin. Just a few months later, the first Model T rolled off the assembly line at Berlin's Westhafen harbor.

Just five years later, however, Ford laid the foundation for an industrial revolution on the Rhine: the plant in Cologne-Niehl – with the active support of the then mayor and later first Federal Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer.

Photo gallery: 100 years of Ford in Germany

Since then, Ford, with its headquarters in Cologne, has consistently made a lasting contribution to the European automotive industry in terms of safety , comfort , and technological developments. Whether through ABS in the Ford Scorpio or the heated windshield, which has become indispensable today, Ford models also originate from here.

1920s–1930s – From the Berlin start to the Cologne vision

But it wasn't just the assembly of the Model T that began in Berlin-Moabit in 1925. The Model A was also later assembled in the capital. The focus? Always looking ahead: And so Konrad Adenauer secured Ford a new home in Cologne and numerous jobs in his city for decades to come.

As early as 1931, the first Cologne truck rolled off the assembly line. While the planned annual capacities remained utopian, the entry into large-scale production was already achieved. With models like the "Rheinland," "Köln," and the Ford Eifel, Ford quickly became a major player. The Americans established themselves as a brand for everyone.

1940s–1950s – Reconstruction and economic miracle

During World War II, the factories were confiscated and converted to truck production, sometimes using forced labor. After the war, Cologne was little more than a pile of rubble. But Ford bounced back through reconstruction.

In 1948, the "Humpback Taunus" was launched, nicknamed for its rear end. It was followed by the 12M and 15M . The former bore the iconic globe as its logo. With the FK 1000 van (from 1953) and rising export figures, Ford benefited from the so-called "economic miracle" in the 1950s.

100 years of Ford in Germany

Image by: Ford

100 years of Ford in Germany

Image by: Ford

1960s–1970s: New works and bestsellers

In 1960, the Taunus 17M P3, designed by Uwe Bahnsen, caused a sensation. Once again, the shape of a Ford vehicle was responsible for its nickname: the bathtub. Two years later, Ford presented the Taunus P4, the brand's first front-wheel drive car in Germany.

In 1966, construction began on the Saarlouis plant, where the highly successful Ford Escort rolled off the production line in 1970. And Ford continued to build on this: in 1976, the Fiesta was launched – a small car that became a bestseller in Europe, is still closely associated with Cologne today, and is now sorely missed.

1980s–1990s: Technology and Diversity

With the Sierra in 1982, Ford attempted a bold aerodynamic design, but the plan worked. The Ford Scorpio brought ABS into mass production as early as 1985.

The 1990s saw the Mondeo and the new-edge models Ka , Focus, and Puma – vehicles that put their own stamp on different segments. In this generation, the Cologne-based company established itself as a specialist and flagship for dynamic chassis technologies.

At the same time, a research center specializing in engine and chassis technologies is being built in Aachen.

2000s–2010s: Focus, car sharing and e-mobility

Starting in 1998, Saarlouis became the home of the Ford Focus, which won multiple international awards. Programs such as Ford Carsharing and "colognE-mobil" drove new mobility solutions.

With the EcoBoost three-cylinder engine, the Cologne-based company not only wins the "Engine of the Year" award several times, but can even occasionally set technological standards in terms of efficiency and fuel consumption.

2020s: Transformation in Cologne

The transformation into the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center will begin in 2021. The new electric models Explorer and Capri have been produced in Cologne-Niehl since 2024. At the same time, Ford Pro is continuing to expand its commercial vehicle business and will be able to further increase its significant sales of the Tourneo and Transit models in this segment.

For its 2025 anniversary, the company is not only celebrating a century of German history, but also the 60th birthday of the Transit – a workhorse that has become an integral part of German cities and whose roots stretch back to the FK 1000 van from Cologne.

Happy anniversary and here's to mass-produced vehicles with Cologne charm that can build on this unique history.

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