Ford Motor Company Chairman, Bill Ford, told a major news network in the US that the Yanks cannot yet compete with China when it comes to EVs, according to Reuters.
"They developed very quickly, and they developed them in large scale. And now they're exporting them," Ford told CNN's 'Fareed Zakaria GPS' Sunday programme. "They're not here but they'll come here we think, at some point, we need to be ready, and we're getting ready," Bill says.
In February, the automaker announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan in a deal that involved using technology from Chinese battery company CATL, attracting attention from a US Senator who asked the Biden administration to review the deal.
Bill Ford, who is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, said in the programme that the Michigan battery plant is a chance for Ford engineers to learn the technology and then use it themselves.
"It (Michigan) is a wholly owned Ford facility. They will be our employees, and all we are doing is licensing the technology. That’s it," he says.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley, said in May that Chinese electric vehicle makers were its main rivals in the sector, and that Ford needs distinctive branding or lower costs to beat Chinese automakers.
"I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota. The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse," he said.
The fight for the wallets of South African motorists continues with Renault’s Kwid, which has been repositioned and with a new naming convention celebrating 10 years on our roads with around 70 000 units sold.
Audi South Africa is pleased to announce the appointment of Markus Schuster as its new country lead, effective September 2025.
Skills development and technical excellence are critical to the sustainability of South Africa’s automotive industry, says Ford.
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A light on my car’s dashboard came on, and instead of fixing the problem, I waited for the bulb to burn out. Crisis solved.
Jarod Kintz
The uptake of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) continues to gain momentum in South Africa, spurred on by the introduction of more affordable models into the local market.
South Africa is a large country but with refuelling stations nearly everywhere across towns, cities and even in remote rural areas, enough provision has been made for all types of vehicles to refuel somewhere.
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Leapmotor, has entered South Africa and its vehicles will soon be available at selected Stellantis dealerships across the country.
