Ford Chairman makes frank admissions regarding EVs

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.

Riaan Ford EV1 50

"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.

Ford Chairman, Bill Ford.

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.

More New Energy Vehicles stories

Courier company takes the EV route

Courier company takes the EV route

The first, all-EV courier company, has charged its batteries and is ready for business, says Alex Staniland owner of Xpress, with an eye on innovation and gaps in the market.

  • 11 June 2025
How safe is the battery? Chery answers the question

How safe is the battery? Chery answers the question

As new-energy vehicles become mainstream, drivers are placing growing importance not just on range, but on the safety of what lies beneath — the electric powertrain system that powers the journey.

  • 9 June 2025