Ford CEO: China’s EV Technology Leaves US Automakers Behind

Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a new interview that Chinese automakers pose the greatest challenge to global EV makers like Tesla and General Motors.

Farley described China’s electric vehicle sector as the “700-pound gorilla” of the industry, citing its rapid innovation, government subsidies, and advanced in-car technology as key advantages over traditional automakers.

Chinese EV makers gain global momentum

Farley pointed to brands such as BYD, Geely, Nio, and Xiaomi as examples of how quickly Chinese automakers have surged into the global EV market. Many of these companies, he said, were not previously in the auto industry, yet have leveraged fresh approaches and state backing to capture market share, according to The Verge. With local governments providing subsidies and fostering competition among hundreds of new entrants, China has created a highly dynamic EV sector.

“The competitive reality is that the Chinese are the 700-pound gorilla in the EV industry. There’s no real competition from Tesla, GM, or Ford with what we’ve seen from China. It is completely dominating the EV landscape globally and more and more outside of China. China’s successful for good reason. It has great innovation at a very low cost,” Farley said.

Technology edge and industry implications

Farley also emphasized China’s strength in vehicle technology, highlighting how companies like Huawei and Xiaomi are integrated into cars at a deeper level than their Western counterparts. He noted that consumers can seamlessly connect their digital lives without pairing a phone, a feature he described as superior to current offerings from U.S. automakers.

“They have far superior in-vehicle technology. Huawei and Xiaomi are in every car,” Farley said. “You get in, you don’t have to pair your phone. Automatically, your whole digital life is mirrored in the car. We are in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs. And if we lose this, we do not have a future Ford,” he said.

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