Ford CEO: "I am in awe of China's electric vehicle industry!"
On August 1, the South Korean media outlet THE GURU published an article stating that Ford CEO Jim Farley praised China's electric vehicle industry. Farley said that Chinese electric vehicles surpass Western cars in technology, cost, and quality.
Farley recently attended the Aspen Ideas Festival held in the United States and stated, "In the past year, I have visited China 6-7 times and experienced the local car market firsthand," and added, "This is the most embarrassing thing I have ever seen."
Farley was especially impressed by the digital level of Chinese electric vehicles. He said, "The level of digital technology in China is far higher than other countries, not only in hardware but also in software, 'smartphone-like cars' have become widespread."
In fact, many Chinese automobiles are equipped with solutions from domestic IT companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi. Huawei has equipped AITO M5 and M7 with the in-vehicle operating system "Harmony OS" and the autonomous driving system "ADS 2.0", achieving a smartphone-level digital environment, and enabling autonomous driving on highways and urban areas. Xiaomi applies its self-developed operating system "Pengxi OS" and autonomous driving system "Pilot Pro" to SU7, connecting the vehicle, smartphone, and smart home, supporting AI-based autonomous driving.
In terms of production, companies like BYD, which integrate all aspects from battery to整车 production, minimize costs to the maximum extent. In addition, domestic battery companies such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Evergrande Battery are rapidly expanding their production capacity and ensuring stable parts supply.
Ford is also busy preparing countermeasures. Ford directly imported four or five well-known electric vehicles from China and transported them to the United States for disassembly and analysis. Farley said, "The Xiaomi SU7 is particularly impressive." SU7 is an electric sedan, known as the "Apple car" of China.
Ford has also started developing a mass-market electric vehicle priced below $30,000, aiming to be the "electric Model T". Additionally, the company is negotiating a licensing agreement with CATL in China to promote the local production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in Michigan, USA.
A South Korean industry insider said, "It's just a matter of time before Chinese electric vehicles go global. Not only Ford, but automobile manufacturers around the world who do not respond to China's technological and price competitiveness will lose their foothold."
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839255399920650/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.