Ford CEO: Racing Division No Longer Just a Marketing Tool—Will Play Key Role in Production Car Development

At the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, Ford CEO Jim Farley clearly stated that Ford Performance (formerly Ford Racing) will no longer serve merely as a marketing tool but will directly participate in the engineering development of next-generation high-performance production vehicles, including the all-new Mustang SC supercar. Farley emphasized the need to efficiently transfer racing technology into road-going vehicles—just as Porsche and Ferrari do. He expressed his ambition for Ford to become the "Porsche of off-roading," leveraging motorsport expertise to enhance the technical capabilities of off-road performance models like the Raptor and Bronco RTR. Data shows that in 2023, Ford sold over 450,000 off-road performance variants in the U.S., accounting for nearly 21% of its total sales. Additionally, Ford is expanding into new business areas by selling customer race cars such as GT3 and GT4 models, along with related parts and accessories. Farley believes that using motorsport to strengthen core product competitiveness is a critical strategy for Ford during this phase of slowed EV transition and renewed focus on high-margin internal combustion engine vehicles.