Ford honoured by corporate ethics monitor

The Ford Motor Company has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2016 – the only car manufacturer in the world to make the grade.

Compiled by Etisphere Institute, which rates companies according to each firm's corporate scruples, the list is based around five categories and has included Ford for seven years in a row. The five categories are: ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship and responsibilities, culture of ethics, governance and leadership and reputation

"This honour celebrates our employees who are committed to doing the right things and making the right choices," said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.

"Ethics and corporate citizenship are the foundation of what drives us to make people's lives better."

It's a sign that Ford's management has perhaps learnt important lessons from decades past – at some cost, after rulings against the company in courts of law.

A poll conducted earlier this year – the 2016 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient – has found that over half the respondents taking part research a company's image and reputation before settling on that company as a business partner. And the same poll found that over a third of respondents refused to do business with a company saddled with a less-than-squeaky-clean image.

"Ford understands that trust is the cornerstone of everything it does, and their commitment to being an active part of a global community helps explain why they are the only automaker Ethisphere has recognised every year since 2010," said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer.

"Being honored for the seventh time is no small achievement. Congratulations to everyone at Ford for being recognized."

The full list – including a couple of Aussie banks that made the cut – are on the Ethisphere Institute's website.