Ford F

Founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and a motley crew of investors, Ford Motor Company became synonymous with the assembly line and mass production, turning the Model T into a symbol of industrial democracy. Ford’s penchant for innovation turned the auto industry on its head with the “Five-Dollar Day,” which boosted productivity by paying workers more than they ever dreamed—while also ensuring they could afford the cars they built. Fast-forward to today and Ford’s glory days feel like a distant memory, overshadowed by a rollercoaster of controversies and recalls, from exploding Pinto gas tanks to the perplexing saga of the "Edsel," a car that flopped so spectacularly it’s a byword for marketing disaster. Now navigating a precarious future with a valuation that’s had more ups and downs than a test drive, Ford is trying to reinvent itself as an electric vehicle pioneer amid increasing competition from Tesla and other startups. Under the watch of CEO Jim Farley, Ford is attempting a comeback, but it remains to be seen whether it can recapture the glory of its early days or become just another relic of automotive history.