Former Ford Factory Singapore Aka Memories At Old Ford Factory

Established in Singapore at Anson Road in 1926, the Ford Motor Company relocated to its state-of-the-art factory on Upper Bukit Timah Road in October 1941. This Art Deco facility marked Ford’s inaugural motorcar assembly plant in Southeast Asia. During the Malayan Campaign (8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942), the Royal Air Force took control of the factory, using it to assemble fighter planes. However, as victory seemed unlikely, the planes were swiftly moved away from Singapore in late January 1942.

Memories at Old Ford Factory MOFF

Japanese forces seized the factory on 13 February 1942, transforming it into the temporary headquarters for Lieutenant-General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Japanese Commander of the 25th Army. The pivotal moment occurred on 15 February 1942 when Lieutenant-General A. E. Percival, the British General Officer Commanding (Malaya), surrendered unconditionally to Lieutenant-General Yamashita in the Boardroom of the Ford Factory. This surrender marked a decisive moment, determining the fate of Singapore for the subsequent three and a half years.

Following Singapore’s fall, the factory became a ‘butai’ or Japanese facility, operated by Nissan to assemble military vehicles for Japan. After the war’s end in 1945, the British army occupied the factory until its return to the Ford Motor Company in 1947, resuming operations until its closure in 1980. On 15 February 2006, the remaining portions of the factory were designated a national monument.

Restored by the National Archives of Singapore, the Former Ford Factory now hosts a permanent World War II exhibition, shedding light on the war and its enduring legacies.

How to Get to Former Ford Factory Singapore

📍 351 Upper Bukit Timah Road Singapore 588192
🚌 67, 75, 170, 171, 173, 178, 184, 961
🚇 Hillview MRT
⏰ 9am – 5.30pm (Tue – Sun) | Close on Mondays and 1st day of CNY
🌐 corporate.nas.gov.sg
🏷 Free admission for Singaporean and PRs

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