Henry Ford

inventor · cars · business

Made cars affordable. Before Henry Ford, cars were super expensive luxuries only rich people could own. Ford invented a way to build them faster and cheaper, so middle-class families could finally have their own cars.

Assembly line genius. Ford didn't invent the assembly line, but he perfected it for car making. Workers stayed in one spot and did the same job over and over while the car moved past them, which made building cars incredibly fast and affordable.

Founded Ford Motor Company. In 1903, Henry Ford started his own car company. The Ford Motor Company became one of the biggest and most successful car manufacturers in the world.

Patented the transmission. In 1911, Ford received a patent for the transmission mechanism used in the Model T and other cars. This invention made it easier and more reliable for cars to shift gears and move forward.

Created the Model T. The Model T was Ford's masterpiece, a simple, sturdy car that millions of people could afford. It became the best-selling car in history for many years because it was reliable and cheap.