Farley: Ford EVs shockingly behind Tesla & China, but Ford can't afford to "walk away from EVs."

[jetermeyer]

I'm just lucky I'm retired. I do not know how any business can make a plan and stick to it in today's environment. All the auto manufacturers built there plans on trade agreements and environmental requirements. Then tried to balance them with customer requirements. With trade, epa completely changing do you respond to the short term change or in 3 years does everything possibly change again. The problem for auto manufacturers is the changing they have to make take years. You can retool a factory or build new factories in months it takes years. So the CEOs can say whatever they want 3 years ago and today and you have to take all of it with a grain of salt because they clearly do not have a clue what the future holds.

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[Mach1E]

I'm just lucky I'm retired. I do not know how any business can make a plan and stick to it in today's environment. All the auto manufacturers built there plans on trade agreements and environmental requirements. Then tried to balance them with customer requirements. With trade, epa completely changing do you respond to the short term change or in 3 years does everything possibly change again. The problem for auto manufacturers is the changing they have to make take years. You can retool a factory or build new factories in months it takes years. So the CEOs can say whatever they want 3 years ago and today and you have to take all of it with a grain of salt because they clearly do not have a clue what the future holds.

If CEOs are making long term investments based on government policies that can change drastically every two years, we need to hire better CEOs.

When the Mach E started, they needed to only plan for a tax credit for the first 200,000 sold and there were no mandates and no giant spending bill for expanded DC charging networks.

So those getting expanded and then taken away shouldn’t have changed “the master plan.”

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm not sure that I give GM credit for the appearance of being "all in" on EV's. From what I understand (misunderstand?), that big lineup of choices are basically re-badged vehicles designed by, and majority owned by, SAIC. GM sold their soul to SAIC and one could argue that Americans do currently have access to the Chinese EV market. Or at least one brand anyway.

I'm not saying I'm for or against Chinese EVs. But I do think Ford is well aware of where they currently are in comparison and they openly admit it. They also openly claim that they are learning FROM the Chinese EV prowess and developing their response.

Amazing times for the automotive enthusiast. I'm getting old but having a blast enjoying the fruits of this revolution before I go out.

 

[Jimrpa]

I don't trust any of the US manufacturers statements. They like tariffs on cars they don't want to sell.
They don't want to build EVs or small inexpensive cars. Remove the %25 tariff on lightweight trucks and the Toyota Hi-lux would be everywhere.

Isn’t the Tacoma the same as a hilux?

 

[Jimrpa]

Ford should team with Apple for their software. They have a huge amount of code from their self driving efforts and could easily move them to one of the best evs in the market.

I suspect that the apple code is vastly out of date now. It’s over 2 years old and would take a minimum of two years to integrate into a real product. Look at how long Sony/Hyundai have been trying to bring their vehicle to market.

 

[sglewiswl]

Isn’t the Tacoma the same as a hilux?

The current hi-lux is a smaller truck, think 90's Ranger. It's a utility truck seen around the globe. They are creating an EV Hi-Lux for sales everywhere but the US. Tacoma is a made for US truck.

 

[john flynt]

Ford CEO says taking apart Tesla and Chinese EVs was 'shocking' and pushed him to shake up the automaker

https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-ceo-taking-apart-tesla-chinese-evs-jim-farley-2025-11

He is absolutely right. China will make 20 million EVs over the next year, doubling the total output of American automobile manufacturers and in the process dominating the world market. Tesla is part of the Chinese effort due to the negations of a few years ago conducted by the world's first trillionaire.

I am pleased by the realism of Farley. I bought a Mache because I really felt Ford could show how America can move to EVs. The car is fantastic, but it does have its glitches, and at times I have been angry enough that I have told my wife that I want to trade it in for a Tesla. For one thing, it is clear to me that Colorado's Ford dealers think EVs are a joke. The service is deplorable. Compared to Tesla , Ford is in the dumps when it comes to EV support.

But I still believe in Ford. The Mache was a leading seller and can continue to be a leading seller. I am not yet decided on whether my next car will be a Tesla or a Ford largely because of the idiotic glitches. The Mache will pause your charging and not tell you what is going on! You have to wait hours for the idiotic software to decide it will accept a charge again. How could a car manufacturer allow such a stupid feature to be included in a product sent to the market.

If you want to know how Tesla became a hundred times larger than ford, consider the imbecility of such a feature. Charging paused!

Yes. Farley is right. Ford is no longer at the top. Another consideration is solid state batteries. They will get 1000 miles to a charge and charge in far less time that the batteries Ford uses. China anticipates hitting the market with these in 27. Ford is still working on a battery that gets 400 miles and is really happy at the prospect!

So, thank you Mr. Farley. I remain a stressed but loyal Mache owner.

 

[dabois89]

I think a lot the US auto management have convinced themselves the EVs are a fad and are fooling themselves into believing the American consumer will continue to buy ever more expensive ICE cars. Eventually EVs are going to drop below ICE prices even with tariffs. 30 minute fast charging will eventually show up everywhere. Every time I get back our 2021 Chrysler Voyager ICE I am shocked by how clunky it feels.

My Stepmom just bought a Tiguan and it was the first time I rode in an ICE car in over a year, it honestly just felt weird because I’m used to instant acceleration.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Nothing new in that "article".

The article is a LONG way to say: Farley is doing a podcast to be released today. Hardly news.

 

[Billyk24]

He is absolutely right. China will make 20 million EVs over the next year, doubling the total output of American automobile manufacturers and in the process dominating the world market. Tesla is part of the Chinese effort due to the negations of a few years ago conducted by the world's first trillionaire.

I am pleased by the realism of Farley. I bought a Mache because I really felt Ford could show how America can move to EVs. The car is fantastic, but it does have its glitches, and at times I have been angry enough that I have told my wife that I want to trade it in for a Tesla. For one thing, it is clear to me that Colorado's Ford dealers think EVs are a joke. The service is deplorable. Compared to Tesla , Ford is in the dumps when it comes to EV support.

But I still believe in Ford. The Mache was a leading seller and can continue to be a leading seller. I am not yet decided on whether my next car will be a Tesla or a Ford largely because of the idiotic glitches. The Mache will pause your charging and not tell you what is going on! You have to wait hours for the idiotic software to decide it will accept a charge again. How could a car manufacturer allow such a stupid feature to be included in a product sent to the market.

If you want to know how Tesla became a hundred times larger than ford, consider the imbecility of such a feature. Charging paused!

Yes. Farley is right. Ford is no longer at the top. Another consideration is solid state batteries. They will get 1000 miles to a charge and charge in far less time that the batteries Ford uses. China anticipates hitting the market with these in 27. Ford is still working on a battery that gets 400 miles and is really happy at the prospect!

So, thank you Mr. Farley. I remain a stressed but loyal Mache owner.

Solid state battery? Hasn't Toyota promised such for quite some time? Haven't of the latest Chinese solid state battery status but will question many of their remarks. 1000 miles? Really or is this just in the lab using the Chinese test protocol which is quite differentvyhan the EPA.

 

[celestial_knight]

• Jim Farley told the "Office Hours: Business Edition" podcast that it spurred him to overhaul the automaker.

It's a great podcast episode, released today. I encourage everyone to have a listen

EVs are actually only a portion of the episode

 

[Lonesparrow67]

Solid state battery? Hasn't Toyota promised such for quite some time? Haven't of the latest Chinese solid state battery status but will question many of their remarks. 1000 miles? Really or is this just in the lab using the Chinese test protocol which is quite differentvyhan the EPA.

Yes, Toyota is also claiming a 2027 release...

 

[Bayviews88]

SOS in MI calls it a Station Wagon.

Ah, the simpler days of 2021-22 when the biggest controversy was “Station Wagon-Gate”…sourced from link below when this came up again for those of us claiming the California unrestricted EV rebate (RIP) for our MachEs.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...o-be-an-suv-on-u-s-epa-data.14204/post-359871

 

[jetermeyer]

If CEOs are making long term investments based on government policies that can change drastically every two years, we need to hire better CEOs.

When the Mach E started, they needed to only plan for a tax credit for the first 200,000 sold and there were no mandates and no giant spending bill for expanded DC charging networks.

So those getting expanded and then taken away shouldn’t have changed “the master plan.”

So you don't think the CEOs made decisions on where to build a plant based on Nafta or whatever the newer version of that was. I strongly believe that they did. How do you think they make decisions on where the next plant is going to be done in the US? They have to rely on negotiated terms. A treaty with Mexico and Canada is a negotiated and binding agreement until it isn't. But many CEO dicisions are made based on what they believe is a stable business environment. Why would any international company come and build a factory in the US if they couldn't count on an agreement. That is what is unstable now making those decisions very hard.

 

[Snakebitten]

According to Canadian press, much of their auto industry is migrating to the states. So those manufacturer's CEO's seem to think it's desirable to manufacture here.
There's certainly evidence that a lot of investment in automotive industry is taking place here as well.

I'm not as doom&gloom regarding that specific subject.

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