Ford Brasil
 Viva o novo
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Headquarters | São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil |
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Key people
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Steven Armstrong (President and CEO) |
| Products | Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Ecosport, Ford Fusion, Ford Courier, Ford Ranger, Ford Edge |
| Revenue |
 US$5.41 billion (2012) |
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Number of employees
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14,596 |
| Parent | Ford Motor Company |
| Subsidiaries | Troller Veículos Especiais |
| Website | www.ford.com.br |
Ford Brasil is the subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the United States for assembly in Brazil. The Ford brand, however, had already been present in the country since 1904 with both vehicles being sold in Brazil.
Ford Motor do Brasil S.A., as it was its name in those days, inaugurated a full blown manufacturing operation on August 26, 1957 with the first Ford F-600 medium truck, very similar to the US-made F-600, leaving the production line featuring a V8 272 cu.in displacement engine, 40% of its parts being Brazilian made. The remaining items were still imported from the United States, but gradually, as the number of OEM parts suppliers in Brazil grew, this number decreased significantly. The F-600 was followed in 1958 by the F-100 pick-up truck and in 1959 by the F-350 light truck. In 1958 the Ipiranga Plant was expanded with the inauguration of local engine production (the V8 272 Y-block engine).
On October 9, 1967, Ford took control of troubled Willys-Overland do Brasil S.A. as majority shareholder and integrated the factory in São Bernardo do Campo as well as the product mix of two mid-range sedans, the Aero-Willys and the Willys Itamaraty, the utility vehicle Willys F-75, the pick-up truck F-75 and the ever popular off-roader Willys Jeep into their Brazilian line-up.
When Ford acquired Willys' Brazilian operation, they inherited a work-in-progress that evolved into the front-wheel drive Ford Corcel, that was widely based on the Renault 12, but had its very own design. The Corcel was one of the most popular cars in 1970, it sold well as a four-door sedan and the two-door coupe was launched for younger buyers. Of those the more prestigious was the Ford Corcel GT with more power, a black bonnet and aggressive looking racing stripes on the sides.
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Wikipedia