Ford and Carhartt Announce Long-Term Partnership and Super Duty

Ford presented a long-term partnership with Carhartt at the Detroit Auto Show, covering workforce programs, community initiatives and the 2027 Super Duty truck.

The partnership between Ford and Carhartt, announced at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, is less a marketing exercise and more a formal recognition of a relationship that has existed for more than a century. Both companies were born in Detroit, their first factories located just a mile apart, and for generations Ford workers pulled on Carhartt workwear before climbing into their trucks.

Carhartt supplied apparel for Ford factory workers as early as the 1920s, with uniform programs continuing through the 1970s. Today, that shared history has been turned into an official multi-year strategic partnership built around three pillars: workforce development, community support, and the creation of durable products for skilled trades.

A central focus of the initiative is the next generation of automotive technicians. Through Ford Philanthropy, dealers, and the TechForce Foundation, the Ford Auto Tech Scholars program helps students pursue careers in automotive and diesel technology by supporting tuition, tools, credentialing fees, and practical expenses. Under the new partnership, Carhartt will outfit upcoming cohorts of scholars with custom workwear designed for real-world shop environments.

The collaboration also extends into community infrastructure. Ford and Carhartt are helping launch the Detroit ToolBank, part of the national ToolBank USA network that provides free access to tools for community revitalization projects, trade education, and disaster relief. The Detroit hub will function as both a tool lending facility and a training ground, supporting thousands of volunteers and managing tens of thousands of tools each year. Ford is contributing an F-150 equipped with ProPower Onboard to help expand the organization’s reach across Southeast Michigan.

On the operational side, the partnership is already visible inside Ford dealerships. In late 2025, Ford, Carhartt, and Cintas introduced a new workwear program for dealership service technicians. The offering includes durable shirts, pants, jackets, and accessories designed for the demands of modern service bays, with dealers able to choose between a fully managed service model or direct purchase.

The most visible outcome for consumers will arrive with the 2027 Ford Super Duty Carhartt. While details remain limited, the teaser confirms a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbodiesel under the hood. Design cues draw directly from Carhartt’s materials and Detroit’s industrial character, including wheels inspired by the manhole covers outside the brand’s downtown store. Ford says more details will be revealed later in 2026.

Taken together, the partnership illustrates how two industrial brands are using shared heritage to address modern challenges. Beyond vehicles and apparel, Ford and Carhartt are aligning around education, tools, and long-term workforce support, positioning the collaboration as an investment in the future of skilled trades rather than a short-term product launch.