Ford Motor Company has been named the most iconic American company in a nationwide survey conducted by Time magazine and Statista as part of a ranking marking the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker topped a list of 250 U.S. companies that respondents said have had the greatest impact on American culture, business, and daily life.
The recognition places Ford ahead of household names across technology, retail, and consumer goods, underscoring the automaker’s outsized role in shaping the nation’s economy and identity for more than a century. Founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, the company is widely credited with transforming manufacturing through the introduction of the moving assembly line, a breakthrough that lowered vehicle costs and helped make personal transportation accessible to millions of Americans.
Time noted that Ford’s influence extends well beyond its historical legacy. The automaker remains a dominant force in today’s market, particularly in trucks and commercial vehicles, while also investing heavily in electric vehicles, software, and next-generation manufacturing. Those efforts, the publication said, reflect Ford’s attempt to balance its heritage with the demands of a rapidly changing auto industry.
Bill Ford, the company’s executive chairman and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, told Time that the company’s modern mission is rooted in the same philosophy that guided its early years. He said innovation should focus on improving people’s lives, rather than simply advancing technology for its own sake.
Time also highlighted Ford’s role as the largest hourly auto employer in the United States, a distinction that continues to tie the brand closely to American workers and domestic manufacturing. The company has repeatedly emphasized that its future product plans, including electric vehicles and advanced propulsion systems, are intended to be built largely in the U.S. by American labor.
General Motors also earned a place near the top of the rankings, coming in seventh overall. Founded in 1908 and headquartered in Detroit, GM has been a central figure in the U.S. auto industry for more than a century and remains one of the country’s largest automakers by sales.
GM’s portfolio of brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, has long covered a wide range of the American market, from entry-level transportation to luxury and high-performance vehicles. Chevrolet in particular has become deeply woven into American culture, producing everything from family sedans and pickup trucks to iconic sports cars like the Corvette.
In recent years, GM has focused heavily on electrification, committing billions of dollars to battery technology and electric vehicle development through its Ultium platform. While the company has adjusted timelines and production targets as EV demand has softened industrywide, Time noted that GM’s scale and longevity continue to make it a defining force in U.S. manufacturing.
The rankings were based on a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults conducted in mid-2025. Participants evaluated companies on factors including cultural impact, emotional connection, familiarity, and perceived importance to American society. Market presence and brand recognition were also factored into the final scores.
Time said the goal of the project was to identify companies that have not only succeeded financially, but have also left a lasting imprint on how Americans live and work. In that context, the strong showing by Ford and GM reflects the deep connection between the automobile and the American experience.
As legacy automakers navigate shifting consumer preferences, regulatory pressures, and global competition, the recognition serves as a reminder that few industries are as closely tied to the nation’s economic history as the auto business. For Ford, topping the list reinforces its image as a company that helped build modern America. For General Motors, a Top 10 finish underscores its enduring relevance in an industry undergoing historic change.