Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley didn’t mince words. “We should not let them into our country,” he declared on Fox & Friends. Chinese automakers, he warned, could obliterate U.S. manufacturing—the “heart and soul” of the nation. Tariffs over 100% now block their vehicles. Drop those barriers? Devastation.
China’s output tops 50 million vehicles yearly. That’s more than America’s total sales. BYD alone outsold Ford globally in 2025: 4.6 million units to Ford’s 4.4 million, a 2% dip for the Dearborn giant. Farley sees no fair fight. “There’s no way this is a fair fight,” he said. Yahoo Finance captured the blunt stance. And it’s echoing across the industry.
But. Farley admires the competition. He’s driven Xiaomi’s SU7, called Chinese EVs superior in cost, tech, quality. Cyber risks? Privacy threats? He flags those too. National security hangs in the balance.
Ford paused EV expansion. Now? A 2027 surge with cheaper production, fresh models. Consumers crave affordable rides. Chinese brands deliver. Yet Farley draws the line at home.
Ford’s Dual Dance: Block at Home, Partner Abroad
Days after his Fox blast, Farley softened—for overseas. Ford will deepen ties with Chinese firms outside America. Joint ventures. Battery deals with BYD. Talks with Geely in Europe. Even rumored Xiaomi chats, though denied. “Having a plan before we go fast… is the most important moment,” he told reporters. Wall Street Journal detailed the pivot.
Why the shift? China saturates at 28-29 million units. Exports fuel growth. Ford exports from there too. “I have nothing but respect for these competitors,” Farley clarified at a media event. Still, U.S. policy must shield domestic jobs. Stakes? Sky-high. Ford Authority noted the walk-back.
China’s Vice Commerce Minister met Ford’s policy chief Steven Croley. Push: Expand in China, cooperate globally. “Chinese and U.S. automotive industries have complementary advantages,” the minister said. Ford eyes competitive products worldwide. But not here. Ford Authority.
Europe feels the heat. Shifting rules risk local makers, hand ground to China, Farley warns. Canada? Importing 49,000 Chinese cars yearly. BYD dominates Mexico EVs. Farley frets border bleed. “I sure hope we don’t allow them to come across the border.” Automotive News. USMCA talks loom large.
Tariffs Hold the Line as Rivals Scramble
Biden’s 100% EV tariffs endure under Trump. Up to 250% in spots. Chinese firms eye U.S. via Mexico, Canada plants. Blocked for now. GM, Tesla face same squeeze. Ford builds 83% of U.S. sales domestically—tariffs sting less.
Farley lobbies. Meets lawmakers. Tariffs on Mexico-Canada? Could “blow a hole” in industry, he said earlier. But Chinese imports? Worse. Bloomberg quotes him: devastating. Bloomberg.
Industry insiders nod. Chinese subsidies slash prices. Huawei, Xiaomi embed tech seamlessly—your digital life mirrors instantly. Ford lags. Global dominance? China’s. U.S. must protect its base.
So Ford fights on two fronts. Bar the gate. Partner elsewhere. 2027 low-cost EVs incoming. Will tariffs hold? Can Detroit match BYD’s scale? Farley bets yes—if walls stay up. The auto wars intensify. America watches.
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