Ford Pilot Plant

The Ford Pilot Plant is a manufacturing facility in Allen Park, Michigan that tests and validates vehicles at different stages of production. The plant uses mobile carriages to move cars through various testing zones to check their performance and readiness.

The facility opened in 1956 as the Continental Division headquarters, where all Continental Mark II vehicles were assembled. Over time, the factory's function shifted from vehicle assembly to specialized validation of prototypes and production samples.

The Ford Pilot Plant represents the evolution of automotive manufacturing processes in the United States automotive industry through its testing methods.

The site is located west of Interstate 94, roughly two miles west of the River Rouge complex. Visitors should note this is an active production facility where access may be restricted.

The facility functions as a testing ground where manufacturing procedures are documented before implementation in regular production assembly lines.

GPS coordinates: 42.28821,-83.20095

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:56