Ford Motor Company paused its electric-vehicle growth efforts, but is pivoting to a major push in 2027. With lower-cost production methods and new models in development, the legacy automaker’s CEO wants to keep Chinese competitors out of the U.S., despite consumer demand for affordable models.
In a recent interview, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he would like to keep Chinese companies out of the U.S., a move that comes as BYD has rapidly expanded outside Asia.
“We should not let them into our country,” Farley said of Chinese auto manufacturers on an episode of “Fox & Friends.”
Allowing the Chinese companies in would be “devastating” to American manufacturing, which Farley calls “the heart and soul of our country.”
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The Ford CEO said China’s manufacturing capacity exceeds 50 million vehicles, surpassing the number of vehicles sold annually in the U.S.
Along with the potential competition ramifications for Ford, General Motors Company and Tesla Inc to allow Chinese electric vehicles a level playing field in the U.S., Farley shared some safety concerns in the interview.
Farley argues that there would also be “cyber and privacy” risks if the U.S. allowed Chinese EVs to be made or imported.
Farley reportedly discussed the potential of joint ventures between the American auto company and Beijing-based Xiaomi with President Donald Trump. His plan: allow China to manufacture EVs in the U.S. and sell them through a U.S.-controlled joint venture. Ford denied the reports.
Ford also held talks with BYD to expand battery-supply partnerships, and explored manufacturing collaborations in Europe with Hong Kong-based Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd..
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The U.S. currently imposes tariffs of more than 100% on Chinese vehicles, effectively barring them from the country.
Changing tariff rules so China can import vehicles or manufacture them in the U.S. could affect consumer price points. This, Farley says, puts Ford and other U.S.-based EV companies at a disadvantage.
“There’s no way this is a fair fight,” Farley said.
In 2025, Shenzhen-based BYD surpassed Ford in total global vehicle sales, according to Bloomberg. BYD reported approximately 4.6 million units sold, while Ford’s global wholesales declined nearly 2% to 4.4 million units.
