Mercury was founded as an extension of Ford Motors in 1938 and remained a branch of the American motor giant until its closure in 2011.
Before Ford
came out with the Mercury brand, they were only producing Fords and Lincolns
for their customers. While the cars were hugely successful, they didn’t have a wide enough selection to compete with corporations like General Motors and Chrysler
. But Ford pulled right back to the front of the competition after releasing the first Mercury in 1938. Hoping to learn more about Mercury’s ownership history? We've compiled everything you need to know about the defunct manufacturer, from the year it was started to the final owners.
4.717k Ratings 5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
Who owns Mercury?
Ford Motors owned Mercury since its founding in 1938. Unfortunately, Mercury was shut down in 2011 after years of record low sales.
You’ve probably heard of the Ford Motor Company before, but you may not know exactly how big it is. Even though they don’t own as many marques as other major corporations like General Motors or Volkswagen
, Ford has a high percentage of shares in major manufacturers like Aston Martin and Jiangling Motors. Given its current assets, the Ford Motor Company is valued at around 257 billion dollars.
What other makes does the Ford Motor Company own?
As of today, the Ford Motor Company only owns the Ford and Lincoln brands. That said, the Ford Motor Company has owned a huge array of makes since its founding in 1903.
Here are all the brands that were once owned by the Ford Motor Company:
Where are Mercuries made?
While Mercury stopped producing cars in 2011, they were manufactured all over the world in their 73 years on the market. But by the time 2010 rolled around, Mercury was only selling about 90,000 units a year.
As a result of its waning popularity and low sales figures, Mercury was shut down in 2011.
The final Mercury model, the Mercury Grand Marquis
, was not expected to sell very well. As a result, a huge majority of the Marquis’ production was done in two factories in St. Louis, Missouri and Southwold, Ontario. Key Takeaway While Mercury is owned by Ford, one of America’s biggest car manufacturers, a lot of its final model’s production was done in Ontario.
A short history of Mercury ownership
Mercury was originally founded by the Ford Motor Company in 1938 to compete with Chrysler’s DeSoto and General Motors Oldsmobile
. At the time, the Ford Motor Company only had high-end and low-end options in their Ford and Lincoln product lines. As a result, Ford started falling behind the competition in the mid-level market. Specifically, Ford didn’t have a product for middle-class buyers looking for an affordable luxury option.
Mercury filled that void for the Ford Motor Company, satisfying buyers with outstanding models like the Mercury Milan
, Mountaineer
, and Montego
. Ford owned mercury for its entire 73 years of existence, profiting from its appeal to buyers in the affordable premium market. How to save money on Mercury insurance
Before you hit the road in a used Mercury, make sure you have the car insurance coverage you need with Jerry
. A licensed broker, the Jerry app helps users compare personalized quotes from over 50 top providers like Progressive, Allstate, and Nationwide for free. Just download the app, answer a few questions, and let Jerry send a list of competitive quotes straight to your phone in minutes. When you find a quote you like, Jerry can help you switch plans and even help cancel your old policy—no paperwork, phone calls, or headaches required.
Users save an average of over $800 a year on car insurance
with Jerry! “I was tired of looking around multiple websites, so I decided to give Jerry
a try. Let me tell you—the process is so easy and simple, and they really find you the best prices for your coverage level. Getting insurance for my new car was quick and easy!” —Joanna D.
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowFAQs