BNR – Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford stated the United States is not yet equipped to rival Chinese production of electric vehicles (EVs).
“They developed very quickly, and… in large scale. Now they’re exporting them,” Ford said. “They’re not here but they’ll come here we think, at some point. We need to be ready, and we’re getting ready,” Ford said.
The car manufacturer announced arrangements to invest $3.5 billion in Michigan to establish an EV battery factory in February. The agreement includes the use of technology from China’s battery company CATL.
Also, the move has piqued the interest of US Senator Marco Rubio, who urged the US government to review the agreement.
Bill Ford is the great-grandson of Henry Ford, the company’s founder. He stated that the Michigan factory provides an opportunity for Ford engineers to acquire knowledge and apply the latest developments.
“It is a wholly owned Ford facility,” Ford said referring to the Michigan facility. “They’ll be our employees, and all we’re doing is licensing the technology. That’s it.”
Ford’s Chinese Rival
Furthermore, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated in May that Chinese EV manufacturers are the company’s main competitors in the field.
He also stated that Ford requires unique advertising or lower costs to compete with Chinese automakers.
“I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota. The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse,” Farley said.
