Ford CEO Warns U.S. Policymakers on Chinese Automakers, Pointing to European Market Shift

Ford Motor Chief Executive Jim Farley urged American policymakers on Tuesday to study Europe's competitive landscape before deciding whether to permit Chinese automakers into the United States, warning that European manufacturers were caught flat-footed by rapid market share gains.

"I think it's just important for us to take our time to be considerate," Farley said at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit, in remarks reported by CNBC Business (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/29/ford-ceo-jim-farley-china-automakers.html). "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."

The warning coincides with sharp global gains by Chinese automotive brands. According to market research firm GlobalData, global market share for Chinese vehicle brands climbed nearly 70% between 2020 and 2025. In Europe, Chinese automakers expanded from virtually zero market share in 2020 to 12% in August, according to data from Germany-based research firm Dataforce.

Farley's statements highlight the balancing act Ford faces in navigating Chinese competition abroad while collaborating on manufacturing and components. In July, Ford and Chinese automaker Geely announced plans for Geely to build electric vehicles at Ford's assembly plant in Spain early next year through a joint manufacturing 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. Alongside those joint efforts, Farley said Ford is preparing to compete directly by launching its "universal electric vehicle" next year, starting with an electric pickup truck.

Ford's commercial partnerships with Chinese firms have drawn scrutiny from Washington. Earlier this month, the Trump administration sent a letter to Ford expressing "profound concern" over its ties to Chinese companies and questioning the automaker's strategy. Ford defended its business model, noting that it remains the top carmaker by U.S. production volume and employs more domestic hourly workers than any other automaker.

The trade debate remains fluid across Washington. Following a meeting last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump stated earlier this month that he might be "OK" with Chinese automakers entering the U.S. provided their vehicles are manufactured domestically. Meanwhile, several bills pending in Congress propose restricting or permanently barring Chinese automotive brands from the American market.