Jim Farley outlined a serious threat to the entire American automotive industry: if the rapid growth of China in the electric vehicle segment is not addressed, positions could be lost forever. He warns that this threatens a loss of competitiveness and technological lag for US brands.
The head of Ford openly speaks about his concern with this process. He notes that over the past year he has made several trips to China and was impressed by the scale and level of local production. By his own admission, what he saw became "the most humiliating experience of his career." These words emphasize that the American auto industry is already beginning to fall behind, while the Chinese electric car market is growing rapidly — as reported by EVMagz.com.
Currently, China accounts for approximately 70% of global electric vehicle production. As a telling example of success, Farley mentioned the Xiaomi YU7 electric SUV, which, with a starting price of $35,000, gathered 200,000 pre-orders.
He also draws attention to the fact that Chinese manufacturers are ahead not only in volumes and prices, but also in the technologies they embed in their vehicles. Farley emphasizes that Huawei and Xiaomi brands are present in almost every Chinese electric car: "When you get into the car, you don't even have to connect your smartphone — your entire digital space instantly syncs with the vehicle. The quality and technical equipment of these cars significantly surpass what Western manufacturers offer."
Meanwhile, Ford is revising its own strategy in the electric vehicle market: instead of the forced production of EVs, the company is focusing on hybrids, which are in increasing demand in North America. According to Business Insider, this approach is already yielding results — Ford's shares rose by more than 9% in 2025.
However, Jim Farley understands that hybrids will not become a full-fledged response to global electrification, led by China. That is why he is raising the alarm and calling on American automakers to act quickly in order not to lose their positions on the world stage.
