Ford Motor chief executive Jim Farley said on Tuesday that policymakers should study Europe’s experience when deciding whether to allow Chinese automakers into the US, arguing that it is “too late” for the European region but not for the American market.
“I think it’s just important for us to take our time to be considerate,” Farley told the Automotive News Congress in Detroit. “I watch what’s happening in Europe right now, where that was not the case, and it’s really something that they have to deal with now, and it’s too late.”
Research and consulting firm GlobalData found that Chinese brands’ global market share jumped nearly 70% between 2020 and 2025. Germany-based Dataforce reported that Chinese automakers’ share of the European market, which was virtually nothing in 2020, reached 12% in August.
Farley’s remarks come as Ford contends with an influx of Chinese automakers in Europe while also seeking partnerships with some Chinese firms to keep plants running and support technologies such as electric vehicle batteries.
In July, Ford and China’s Geely said Geely planned to build EVs at a Ford-owned plant in Spain 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 on Tuesday.
He added that Ford also intends to compete against the Chinese, noting that the company is preparing to launch its “universal electric vehicle” next year with a pickup truck.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration sent the automaker a letter expressing “profound concern” about its ties to Chinese companies and questioning its strategic direction. Ford defended its stance at the time, describing itself as America’s top-producing carmaker and saying it employs more hourly workers in the US than any other automaker.
Farley’s warning follows a high-profile visit last week by Chinese President Xi Jinping with President Donald Trump, who earlier this month said he might be “OK” letting Chinese automakers into the US if they produced vehicles domestically.
Bills in Congress could also restrict or permanently ban Chinese automotive brands from entering the US market.
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