| A long-running General Motors (GM) ad campaign boasted that its Chevrolet lineup was the "Heartbeat of America." But it was Ford Motor Co. (F) that brought mass production to the auto industry — and made it possible for workers to buy the very cars they were building. It was Ford that: ✓ Put America on wheels with the venerable and easy-to-maintain Model T, a car affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie." ✓ Created the first mass-market V-8, an engine so powerful that "Bonnie and Clyde" gangster Clyde Barrow told CEO Henry Ford in a testimonial letter that "even if my business hasn't been strictly legal it don't hurt anything to tell you what a fine car you got in the V-8." ✓ Kicked Enzo Ferrari's butt and stole Italy's racing crown by building a race car model that finished 1-2-3 in the great Le Mans endurance race in 1966, a victory chronicled in the hit flick "Ford v Ferrari." ✓ Supercharged the "muscle car era" with the sleek-and-sporty Ford Mustang. ✓ Grabbed the top spot in the pickup market back in 1976 (and kept it ever since). ✓ Planted a flag in the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, building on its century of success with internal-combustion vehicles, thanks to its Ford F-150 Lightning pickup and Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV.
Ford built itself into an American icon — not just in cars and trucks, but in the fabric of daily American life. But very few companies that dominate in one era "cross the chasm" and remain relevant to the next generation of customers. Over the last 12 months, the Ford stock price is down 10%. And over the last five years with a strong overall market bull run baked into some of that time, Ford shares have barely managed to break even. Ford hasn't been shy about its issues with costs, manufacturing, and productivity. But it claims to have plans to reclaim its leadership position. The company that Henry built is targeting the EV market. But you're about to learn why victory in that race faces very long odds of success... Click here to continue reading online | 
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