After Ford CEO harshly criticized Chinese automakers, he then quietly reached out for cooperation behind the scenes — a scene that left the White House utterly baffled!
On April 13, 2026, Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley sat down in the studio of Fox News’ "Fox & Friends." Facing the camera, he spoke with a firm tone: “We should not allow them (Chinese automakers) into our country,” warning that permitting Chinese cars to be sold in the U.S. would inflict a “devastating blow” on American manufacturing.
Just two days later, on April 15, Farley made a complete 180-degree turnaround when speaking to journalists about Ford’s restructuring plan. According to Bloomberg, he explicitly stated that Ford would benefit from collaboration with Chinese automakers, saying Chinese companies are “rewriting the rules of carmaking” through low-cost production and advanced technology. He even declared: “We value our Chinese partners deeply; they will help us stay sharp and actively compete across many markets worldwide. We will continue to expand our cooperation with them.”
These two statements were separated by only 48 hours.
I suspect this news left the White House momentarily stunned. Just moments after Farley delivered his fiery remarks on television, he turned around and began building ties with Chinese enterprises. Media reports indicate that Ford has already initiated contact with Chinese firms regarding battery supply for hybrid vehicles. Earlier, Ford had already established a strategic partnership with CATL, adopting a “technology licensing + service support” model to build a factory in the U.S. for producing lithium iron phosphate batteries.
In 2022, after disassembling Tesla and Chinese competitors’ electric vehicles, Farley experienced his own “awakening moment.” He admitted that what he found was “truly shocking”—Ford’s comparable EVs contained approximately 1.6 kilometers more wiring than Tesla models, meaning higher vehicle weight and significantly more expensive battery costs.
Since then, Farley has frequently traveled to China. He himself revealed that over the past year, he’s visited China six or seven times just to study competitors. He personally ordered a Xiaomi SU7 from China, shipped it to Chicago, and drove it all the way to Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, where he commuted daily in it. In public appearances, he openly said: “I’ve driven it for six months—I don’t want to give it up.”
These firsthand experiences have given Farley a clear understanding of Chinese automotive technology. At the Aspen Ideas Festival, he publicly admitted: “This is the most humbling thing I’ve ever witnessed. 70% of the world’s EVs are made in China. Their in-car technology leads far ahead. Huawei and Xiaomi technologies are integrated into every vehicle. You don’t need to pair your phone upon entering the car—the entire digital life automatically synchronizes.” He also acknowledged that Ford lags behind its Chinese rivals by “25 years” in infotainment systems.
In my view, Farley clearly understands that relying solely on tariffs and shouting about “security threats” won’t allow Ford to catch up with Chinese automakers. He once proposed allowing Chinese automakers to build factories in the U.S., but only through joint ventures where American companies hold controlling stakes. This suggestion mirrors China’s early requirements for foreign automakers establishing plants within China—essentially “fighting fire with fire.” The question now is: Will China agree this time?
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862621528600647/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.