Ford and Carhartt Are Teaming Up on a Truck That’ll Be as American as They Come

Over the past few months, Ford CEO Jim Farley has been voicing his concerns for a labor shortage in America’s “Essential Economy.” Put another way, the kind of hands-on work that robots and A.I. can’t be trained for.

It hasn’t been all talk, either, as the FoMoCo has followed up on the big boss’s warnings by creating a series of Future Builders Labs, bolstering school automotive programs and expanding scholarship opportunities, among various other projects.

Ford

The latest of which takes shape as a multi-year partnership with Carhartt. This week at the Detroit Auto Show, the two companies unveiled an initiative aimed at workforce development, community building and providing durable products that help strengthen and support the skilled trades.

Partnering on a workwear pickup

To mark the occasion, Ford and Carhartt also announced that, in addition to selling new co-branded merchandise, they’ll be teaming up on a special-edition Super Duty set to launch later this year.

Though the only image of the truck at this point is the above close-up, there are a few things that we’ve been made to expect.

Ford

For one, it’ll bring a uniquely rugged aesthetic. According to the announcement, the inspiration for many of the details came from a visit to the Carhartt store, so it’ll likely have a host of touches appealing to workwear aficionados.

Moreover, as evident from the teaser video released in conjunction with the still, the truck will celebrate its shared Detroit heritage. You don’t have to be a film buff to intuit that the wheel design is meant to recall the manhole cover it rolls over as the pickup enters the screen.

Ford

Finally, according to the badge that appears on the side of the Super Duty Carhartt, it’ll feature Ford’s 6.7-liter Powerstroke Turbodiesel V8 under the hood. It’s a fitting choice — with anywhere between 1,050 and 1,200 lb-ft of torque depending on the configuration, the engine is a true workhorse.

In any case, while it might seem like just another way for Ford to add appeal to its Super Duty trucks, there’s actually plenty of precedent for the collaborative pickup.

Ford

A history of hard work

That’s because, in addition to being Detroit neighbors, the two companies have a shared history that dates back over a century. 

Having set up shop in 1889, Hamilton Carhartt began producing apparel for FoMoCo factory workers as early as the 1920s. Ford even had a workwear program in place well into the 1970s.

Ford

Interestingly enough, though, that’s not the only way through which these companies share close ties. Over on Instagram, Ford Archivist Ted Ryan and Carhartt Archivist Dave Moore took a look at some efforts from the early 20th century.

Long before tacky automotive print tees became a thing, Ford took a stab at selling apparel in its Highland Park store. What’s more, Carhartt actually operated as an automobile company for a brief period throughout 1911 and 1912.

More to come

According to Ford, the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt truck is set to be available later this year. More details are to follow, with a full reveal to come in the next few months.

Ford

As part of their new partnership, Ford and Carhartt are working to provide for the future automotive technicians through a variety of initiatives. Along with launching a new dealership uniform program alongside Cintas, they’re also outfitting Ford Auto Tech Scholars in custom Carhartt gear and bringing ToolBank to Detroit.

If you’d like to stay up to date on the truck or learn more about the partnership, you can head to Ford’s website.

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