| September
1979 |
Ford
introduced the Probe I concept vehicle |
| November
1979 |
Ford
buys a 25% stake in Toyo Kogyo of Japan, later to become Mazda. |
| September
1980 |
Ford
introduced the Probe II concept vehicle |
| September
1982 |
Ford
Introduced the Probe III concept vehicle |
| 1983 |
Ford
introduced the Probe IV concept vehicle |
| 1985 |
Ford
introduced the Probe V concept vehicle |
| August
28, 1987 |
The
name 'Probe' was officially adopted as the new car's name. |
| January
1988 |
Mazda
begins building the Ford Probe at Mazda Motor Manufacturing Corporation
in Flat Rock, Michigan. |
| May
12, 1988 |
Ford
intoduces the Probe at the Chicago Auto Show. |
| June
1988 |
The
100,000th Ford Probe is ordered. |
| June
1992 |
Mazda
Motor Manufacturing Corporation is restructured as equal partnership with
Ford, renamed AutoAlliance International Inc. |
| July
1, 1992 |
Ford
acquires 50 percent of Mazda Motor Manufacturing and renames the company
AutoAlliance International, under which the Probe is built. |
| August
1992 |
Ford
introduces the second generation Ford Probe. |
| April
30, 1993 |
Production
of new CD4E automatic transaxle starts at Batavia Transmission Plant in
Ohio. The 1994 Probe is one of the vehicles slated to receive the new transaxle. |
| June
1, 1993 |
The
1994 Ford Probe becomes one of the first cars to have dual air bags as standard
equipment. |
| June
10, 1994 |
Ford
introduces U.S.-built Ford Probe GT and Japanese-built Ford Laser in Japan. |
| November
27, 1995 |
Lear
Seating Corporation of Romulus, Michigan receives Ford's "Most Valued
Supplier" award for the manufacturing of the seats in the Ford Probe. |
| April
1996 |
Ford
takes effective control of Mazda. |
| March
17, 1997 |
Ford
announces discontinuation of the Probe, Thunderbird, Cougar, and Aerostar. |