Ford CEO Shifts Stance, Seeks Expanded Partnership with Chinese Automakers

Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley has swiftly and noticeably adjusted his stance on China-related remarks. On April 13, during an interview with Fox News, he argued that Chinese automakers should be blocked from entering the U.S. market. Just two days later, while discussing Ford’s corporate restructuring, he shifted tone, stating that Ford is actively seeking to expand commercial partnerships with Chinese automakers and acknowledging that Chinese companies—thanks to their low-cost, high-tech products—are reshaping industry norms. Farley emphasized that Ford values its Chinese partners, viewing them as crucial to maintaining the company’s global competitiveness. He explicitly stated Ford’s intention to broaden such collaborations, though no specific projects are ready for announcement yet. Currently, Ford is in talks with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group about sharing production capacity in Europe and exploring potential cooperation with BYD on battery supply for hybrid vehicles. In China, Ford already operates through joint ventures with Changan Automobile and Jiangling Motors. Previously, Farley had urged the Trump administration to require any Chinese automaker planning to build a factory in the U.S. to form a joint venture with an American company, with U.S. ownership control—a model mirroring China’s earlier requirements for foreign automakers operating in China. Clarifying his position, Farley stressed that his stance is not anti-China but aimed at safeguarding the competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry. He further warned that global automakers failing to match the technological sophistication and cost efficiency of leading Chinese manufacturers risk being eliminated from the market.