Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford, has stated that US carmakers need to compete directly with China, rather than trying to exclude them from the market. This comes as some lawmakers have proposed measures to lock Chinese automakers out of the US market, and industry lobbyists have supported these efforts.
Ford made these comments at an Axios event in Washington, D.C., saying, "We have to go toe-to-toe with China. We can't expect to keep them out forever, and we have to be able to beat them at their own game." This stance is in contrast to Ford CEO Jim Farley, who has expressed concerns over the subsidies China's auto sector receives from its government, making it difficult for US carmakers to compete.
View Price on AmazonThe US market has already seen the introduction of cars with Chinese ties, such as the Lincoln Nautilus, which is manufactured in China. Additionally, Volvo, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Geely, has been given authorization to continue doing business in the US. However, its sister brand Polestar was not granted the same authorization.
Bill Ford's comments suggest that the company is looking to develop a strategy that goes beyond exclusion and can withstand regime changes. He emphasized the need for a bipartisan industrial policy, saying, "Our lead times are longer than political lead times. I think an industrial policy that is a bipartisan one—which, as I say today, even saying that might sound difficult—we really need that."
Ford is attempting to preempt the threat of Chinese competition with the introduction of a $30,000 electric pickup. Other companies, such as startup Slate, are also developing similar vehicles. It will be interesting to see how these vehicles compare to those from Chinese automakers if they manage to break into the US market.
Source: thedrive.com
