Yesterday, Ford Motor Company issued a press release announcing yet another major milestone for its F-Series lineup of pickup trucks. Since January 1977, the automaker has sold more than 26 million F-Series trucks and has been the number one selling truck brand in the country 40 years in a row. In addition to four decades of dominance in the truck segment, F-Series has also been the number one selling vehicle in general for 35 years.
The press release included a timeline of significant F-Series innovations and milestones. F-Series began leading the pickup segment in 1977 with the introduction of a new F-150 light-duty pickup featuring an improved 351-series V8 engine, standard front disc brakes, and an extended SuperCab offering. Since then, F-Series has seen numerous innovations including:
- Introduction of twin-traction-beam four-wheel-drive front suspension in 1980.
- Introduction of Class 3-leading F-450 in 2008.
- Introduction of EcoBoost engine technology in 2011
- Introduction of new Pro Trailer Backup Assist system in 2016
“What’s made the F-Series so successful is the Ford truck team’s ability to anticipate the needs of our customers better than anyone else – how those needs change, what’s most important, and what they need to move forward,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Their insights help us design, engineer and build America’s best-selling trucks.”