DETROIT — Ford engine CEO Jim Farley said Tuesday he believes politicians should learn from the European experience before deciding whether to allow Chinese automakers into the United States, warning that it is “too late” for that region but not for the American market.
“I think it’s just important that we take our time to be considerate,” Farley said at the Automotive News convention in Detroit. “I look at what’s happening in Europe right now, where that wasn’t the case, and it’s really something they have to deal with now, and it’s too late.”
The global market share of Chinese brands jumped by almost 70% between 2020 and 2025, according to market research and consulting firm GlobalData. The market share of Chinese automakers in Europe was virtually zero in 2020 but reached 12% in August, according to German company Dataforce.
Farley’s comments come as Ford tries to compete with an influx of Chinese automakers entering Europe, while also trying to partner with some Chinese companies to fill factories and help in other technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries.
Ford and Chinese automaker Geely said in July that Geely plans to build electric vehicles at a Spanish factory owned by the Detroit automaker by early next year through a new manufacturing joint venture.
“Our answer is pretty simple. We’re going to partner with the Chinese where we don’t have (intellectual property), where we can be more capital efficient in places like Europe or Southeast Asia,” Farley said Tuesday.
He also added that Ford also plans to compete with the Chinese, noting that it is preparing to launch its “universal electric vehicle” with a pickup truck next year.
The Trump administration sent the automaker a letter earlier this month expressing “deep concern” about its ties to Chinese companies and questioning its strategic trajectory. At the time, Ford defended its position as America’s top automaker and said it employed more hourly workers in the country than any other automaker.
Farley’s warning also follows a high-profile visit last week by Chinese President Xi Jinping with President Donald Trump, who said earlier this month that he might be “okay” with letting Chinese automakers into the United States if they produced vehicles in the country.
There are also bills in Congress that could restrict or even permanently ban Chinese auto brands from entering the U.S. market.
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