No, Blue Bird is not owned by Ford. Blue Bird Corporation is an independent American bus manufacturer headquartered in Fort Valley, Georgia. Ford Motor Company is one of the largest automakers in the world headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. While the two companies have collaborated in the past, Blue Bird remains an independent company not owned by Ford.
History of Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird Corporation has over 90 years of history as a leading school, commercial and specialty bus manufacturer. Some key facts:
- Founded in 1927 originally as a side business by A.L. Luce, who owned a Ford dealership and buick dealership in Fort Valley, Georgia.
- Began selling its iconic Blue Bird school buses in 1937.
- Has manufactured and sold over 600,000 buses since its founding.
- Remains headquartered in Fort Valley, Georgia to this day.
Throughout its history, Blue Bird has established itself as a top school bus brand in the United States and Canada. Though it started as a side business for a Ford dealership owner, Blue Bird operates as its own independent company today.
History of Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company has an even longer history than Blue Bird, dating back to 1903:
- Founded in 1903 by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan.
- Known for early innovation in assembly line manufacturing used for the Model T automobile.
- Has grown to be one of the largest automakers in the world.
- Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan and sells vehicles globally.
Unlike Blue Bird which focuses specifically on bus manufacturing, Ford is a large player in the overall consumer and commercial automobile market. Their histories show they are independent companies that got their start in different industries.
Collaboration Between the Companies
Though Blue Bird and Ford operate independently, they have collaborated on certain projects over the years. Examples include:
Blue Bird School Buses Using Ford Chassis
For many decades, Blue Bird manufactured school bus bodies which were mounted onto chassis supplied by Ford. This allowed each company to focus on their specialty – bus bodies for Blue Bird and chassis for Ford.
Joint Development of Power Stroke Diesel Engine
In the 1990s, Blue Bird and Ford worked together to develop the Power Stroke diesel engine for use in buses. This helped Blue Bird offer a diesel option.
Exploring an Electric School Bus
In 2019, the companies announced they were exploring collaborating on an all-electric school bus using a Ford chassis. However, this concept does not appear to have materialized yet.
So while they have collaborated, Blue Bird and Ford remain independent companies with separate manufacturing operations and headquarters. Ford does not have any ownership stake in Blue Bird.
Blue Bird Ownership History
Here is an overview of Blue Bird’s ownership history showing it has remained independent:
| Years | Owner |
|---|---|
| 1927 – 2007 | Privately owned by the Luce family, founders of Blue Bird |
| 2007 – Present | Publicly traded company (NASDAQ: BLBD) |
Key points:
- Founded and privately owned by the Luce family for 80 years.
- Became a publicly traded company in 2007.
- Remains headquartered in Fort Valley, Georgia.
At no point in Blue Bird’s history was it owned by Ford or any other major automaker. It has operated as an Georgia-based independent manufacturer for over 90 years.
Blue Bird and Ford Today
Here is an overview of where things stand today between Blue Bird and Ford:
Blue Bird Corporation
- Leading independent manufacturer of school, commercial and specialty buses.
- Headquartered in Fort Valley, Georgia.
- Approximately 5,000 employees.
- Manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
- Publicly traded on NASDAQ with a market value around $300 million.
Ford Motor Company
- One of the largest global automakers headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.
- Manufactures cars, trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles.
- Around 200,000 employees worldwide.
- Publicly traded on NYSE with a market value around $60 billion.
So in summary – Blue Bird and Ford remain independent companies focused on their core manufacturing strengths. Blue Bird is not owned by Ford today, though they have collaborated on projects in the past.
Conclusion
Based on the history and current operations of both companies, Blue Bird Corporation is not owned by Ford Motor Company. Key facts supporting this:
- Blue Bird was founded in Georgia by A.L. Luce initially as a side business for his Ford dealership. It has always been an independent manufacturer.
- Ford is one of the largest global automakers but has never owned Blue Bird.
- The companies have collaborated on projects like engines and chassis in the past but have separate ownership.
- Blue Bird remains an independent public company headquartered in Georgia, not owned by Ford.
Though Blue Bird got its start supported by a Ford dealership, it has grown into its own independent American manufacturer specializing in school, commercial and specialty buses over its 90+ year history.
