Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, helping make cars affordable through mass production.
Henry Ford’s company built the car from 1908 to 1927. Its simple design, interchangeable parts, and standardized production made it easier to manufacture and repair than many competitors. The Model T was initially assembled using conventional methods, but Ford later reorganized production around moving assembly lines.
The car became closely associated with mass motorization in the United States. Although it was not the world’s first automobile, its price and production scale gave it an extraordinary social and economic impact. Ford’s Highland Park plant began using a moving assembly line for Model T production in 1913.
A common mix-up is calling the Model T the first mass-produced car. Earlier cars were produced in quantity, but the Model T became the best-known early example of highly standardized, large-scale automobile manufacturing.