The CEO of Ford says he's been driving a Xiaomi EV for the past 6 months and doesn't want to give it up

[sullynd]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ceo-ford-says-hes-driving-115916540.html
 

• Ford CEO Jim Farley says he's been driving the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi's EV for the past six months.

• Farley described Xiaomi as an "industry juggernaut."

• Farley previously told a board member that China's auto industry was an "existential threat."

Ford CEO Jim Farley says he doesn't want to give up the Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7 he's been driving for the past half year.

"I don't like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi," Farley said while speaking to the British presenter Robert Llewellyn on "The Fully Charged Podcast." The podcast, which Llewellyn hosts, aired on Monday.

"We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and I've been driving it for six months now, and I don't want to give it up," Farley continued

[ice-capades]

22 hours ago, sullynd said:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ceo-ford-says-hes-driving-115916540.html
 

 

• Ford CEO Jim Farley says he's been driving the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi's EV for the past six months.

• Farley described Xiaomi as an "industry juggernaut."

• Farley previously told a board member that China's auto industry was an "existential threat."

Ford CEO Jim Farley says he doesn't want to give up the Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7 he's been driving for the past half year.

"I don't like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi," Farley said while speaking to the British presenter Robert Llewellyn on "The Fully Charged Podcast." The podcast, which Llewellyn hosts, aired on Monday.

"We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and I've been driving it for six months now, and I don't want to give it up," Farley continued

 

It's one thing to drive a competitor's product, it's another to state publicly that you don't want to give it up. Too much information shared that shouldn't.

Edited October 24, 2024 by ice-capades
Typo

[fuzzymoomoo]

45 minutes ago, ice-capades said:

 

It's one thing to drive a competitor's product, it's another to state publicly that you don't want to give it up. Too much information shared that should be. 

If I said something like that publicly I would probably be fired. The double standard is ridiculous. 

[joseodiaga4]

Incredible to see this statement!

Maybe he should try a position at Xiaomi 😬

[DeluxeStang]

I understand some are taken back by his bluntness, but look at what he's saying in that interview. He's basically giving Chinese brands some credit, praising them in what they're doing well.

 

That's a necessary step if you want to compete with someone. Think about it, the people who still think all Chinese brands are knock-off brands making terrible cars, well those people aren't taking China seriously, and aren't thinking about how they can compete, because they don't see China as a credible competitor/threat. 

 

Farley does, and he's doing something about it. 

Edited October 23, 2024 by DeluxeStang

[DeluxeStang]

We've had so many leaders who spin and sugarcoat everything. Seeing someone who's transparent about Ford's strengths and weaknesses, and where they are relative to competitors is refreshing. Respecting your rivals is essential if you want to respect yourself, because it pushes you to better your own company, and products, in order to be competitive. 

[akirby]

He’s already said that Chinese EVs are the future competition and that’s what the skunkworks has been working on for 2+ years.  I don’t see the problem.

[DeluxeStang]

For anyone wondering, this is what that Chinese EV looks like. If Ford wants to make a rival, that would be great. 

[jpd80]

3 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

If I said something like that publicly I would probably be fired. The double standard is ridiculous. 

Yes, very surprised at Farley’s openness about his liking for the Chinese BEV,

even more admissions that the Chinese now have BEV IP that legacy auto brands

havent been able to develop yet. He added that the Chinese have been going at 

BEV development strongly for the past ten years, they are miles in front with costs.

 

So when the Ford CEO lays out how far behind legacy brands are in the BEV race,

it’s no wonder why collectively, all brands are lobbying to preven BYD and others

from getting a foothold in the US market.

Edited October 23, 2024 by jpd80

[jpd80]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

He’s already said that Chinese EVs are the future competition and that’s what the skunkworks has been working on for 2+ years.  I don’t see the problem.

Yes, the skunkworks was a response to making a more competitive BEV but remember that originally,

it was set up as a side bet and kept quiet but became mainstream when North American buyers rejected

the higher prices being asked for BEVs. Ford always knew that something much better was needed for

the GEN 2 BEVs and it now appears that the evolved GE2 platform has been quietly scuttled in favour of CE1.

 

Now contrast that changing development position with GM who seem to be locked into their Ultium architecture,

GM likes to think big but if a big change in customer requirement happens, I doubt they can change quickly

without huge disruption. And Stellantis needn’t bother , I think their goose is cooked, killing US profit earners.

 

I won’t dwell on VW only to say that Ford’s experience with the two MEBs has probably shown it all the things 

to avoid when developing an efficient BEV design….parts supply and production line changes have probably

achieved a lot of improvements over the originator tool kit

Edited October 23, 2024 by jpd80

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

For anyone wondering, this is what that Chinese EV looks like. If Ford wants to make a rival, that would be great. 

Ignore the mercury badge, but maybe Ford could do something like this. Farley and others within the company have been very open about how an EV sedan/hatchback makes a lot of sense for an affordable EV. Something like this would enable Ford to bring back not just a sedan, but one that was more desirable than the fusion/Tarus. 

[T-dubz]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

For anyone wondering, this is what that Chinese EV looks like. If Ford wants to make a rival, that would be great. 

That’s a pretty nice looking car too. And only $30k

[Rick73]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

For anyone wondering, this is what that Chinese EV looks like. If Ford wants to make a rival, that would be great. 

Nice looking car, but let’s not forget the article stated they are losing an average of $9,200 per vehicle, with base price starting at $30k (USD), and sold only in China (where labor cost is much lower).  For that car to be profitable when manufactured in North America I would guess it would have to sell at over $50,000 USD.  Just saying it’s not completely hopeless yet, and look forward to see what “affordable” BEVs Ford comes up with.

[DeluxeStang]

51 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

That’s a pretty nice looking car too. And only $30k

Exactly, imagine something like that with Ford's sharper design language, it would be awesome. A truck and a crossover are gonna be the first affordable EVs Ford offers, but they'd have to be insane not to at least try a sedan/hatchback concept and get some feedback on it. 

 

I'm so tired of hearing about these affordable EVs, I want to see something, even a sketch would be fine. Stop talking about it and show us Ford. 

[mackinaw]

4 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I understand some are taken back by his bluntness, but look at what he's saying in that interview. He's basically giving Chinese brands some credit, praising them in what they're doing well.

 

That's a necessary step if you want to compete with someone. Think about it, the people who still think all Chinese brands are knock-off brands making terrible cars, well those people aren't taking China seriously, and aren't thinking about how they can compete, because they don't see China as a credible competitor/threat. 

 

Farley does, and he's doing something about it. 

 

You're absolutely right, and lordy, do we have short memories.  I remember the smugness the Big 3 had when Japanese cars first appeared in the U.S. in the 60's/70's.  Rice-burners they were called, and nobody is going to buy them.  Well, we all know what happened there.  Ditto with the Koreans in the 80's.  And now the Chinese are threatening to take over the automotive world and, again, that same smugness has reared its ignorant head.  Will we ever learn?  At least Farley has enough guts to say the Chinese can build a pretty good car.  Only the uninformed can argue with this.

[tbone]

11 hours ago, ice-capades said:

 

It's one thing to drive a competitor's product, it's another to state publicly that you don't want to give it up. Too much information shared that should be. 

You think, that’s flippin stupid. You can respect your competition, but you don’t make public statements like that. This is the type of comment that makes me question his judgment.  

[tbone]

6 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

Ignore the mercury badge, but maybe Ford could do something like this. Farley and others within the company have been very open about how an EV sedan/hatchback makes a lot of sense for an affordable EV. Something like this would enable Ford to bring back not just a sedan, but one that was more desirable than the fusion/Tarus. 

I think that Mercury would sell.  Very sharp.  

[fuzzymoomoo]

13 hours ago, mackinaw said:

 

You're absolutely right, and lordy, do we have short memories.  I remember the smugness the Big 3 had when Japanese cars first appeared in the U.S. in the 60's/70's.  Rice-burners they were called, and nobody is going to buy them.  Well, we all know what happened there.  Ditto with the Koreans in the 80's.  And now the Chinese are threatening to take over the automotive world and, again, that same smugness has reared its ignorant head.  Will we ever learn?  At least Farley has enough guts to say the Chinese can build a pretty good car.  Only the uninformed can argue with this.

Im not arguing what he said, my issue is how brazen he was about it. Like a previous poster said, it’s one thing to respect the competition and give them credit where credit is due, it’s another to talk up their product like it’s one of your own and I feel like that’s what Farley did here. 

[rmc523]

16 hours ago, jpd80 said:

Yes, the skunkworks was a response to making a more competitive BEV but remember that originally,

it was set up as a side bet and kept quiet but became mainstream when North American buyers rejected

the higher prices being asked for BEVs. Ford always knew that something much better was needed for

the GEN 2 BEVs and it now appears that the evolved GE2 platform has been quietly scuttled in favour of CE1.

 

Now contrast that changing development position with GM who seem to be locked into their Ultium architecture,

GM likes to think big but if a big change in customer requirement happens, I doubt they can change quickly

without huge disruption. And Stellantis needn’t bother , I think their goose is cooked, killing US profit earners.

 

I won’t dwell on VW only to say that Ford’s experience with the two MEBs has probably shown it all the things 

to avoid when developing an efficient BEV design….parts supply and production line changes have probably

achieved a lot of improvements over the originator tool kit

 

GM has even scrapped their Ultium branding recently.

 

15 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

Exactly, imagine something like that with Ford's sharper design language, it would be awesome. A truck and a crossover are gonna be the first affordable EVs Ford offers, but they'd have to be insane not to at least try a sedan/hatchback concept and get some feedback on it. 

 

I'm so tired of hearing about these affordable EVs, I want to see something, even a sketch would be fine. Stop talking about it and show us Ford. 

 

Agreed that it'd be nice to see a concept.

 

I'm all for the approach of keeping things close to the vest and surprising with a reveal, but they could do some sort of design concept.

[rmc523]

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I think the issue some have with this is the public "they're doing better than us" vs. keeping that part behind closed doors and instead publicly saying "they have some great products, but so do we and we're working on even better ones that are coming soon" vs. flat out saying we're behind.

[tbone]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I think the issue some have with this is the public "they're doing better than us" vs. keeping that part behind closed doors and instead publicly saying "they have some great products, but so do we and we're working on even better ones that are coming soon" vs. flat out saying we're behind.

Exactly. Hey, don’t buy our Ford product because it’s shitty. Wait for the Chinese invasion before you buy.

[jpd80]

38 minutes ago, tbone said:

Exactly. Hey, don’t buy our Ford product because it’s shitty. Wait for the Chinese invasion before you buy.

Initially I thought that too but looking deeper reveals a worried CEO who knows that 

Ford’s GEN 2 BEVs will be critical to competing with newer BEVs. That was the catalyst 

for Ford realising that it couldn’t sleepwalk slow progression upgrades with electric vehicles.

The fact that Farley set up a skunkworks to do that shows that he needed to get away from

all the Ford corporate engineering thinking….so yeah, this is kinda trashing the bureaucracy

that stops this kind of innovation.

 

Ford, GM, Stellantis, VW & Toyota’s safe space is the US government and EU are on their side

in terms of blocking an aggressive push by China to get into those two markets.

 

I wonder how long it will be until US and EU governments decide that the Chinese manufacturers

are offering those affordable BEVs today, now without those governments having to offer tax credits….

 

 

Edited October 24, 2024 by jpd80

[DeluxeStang]

39 minutes ago, tbone said:

Exactly. Hey, don’t buy our Ford product because it’s shitty. Wait for the Chinese invasion before you buy.

Interesting take. Mine is Chinese brands have made massive gains this last decade, we're taking them seriously so we can beat them. 

[02MustangGT]

2 hours ago, rmc523 said:

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I think the issue some have with this is the public "they're doing better than us" vs. keeping that part behind closed doors and instead publicly saying "they have some great products, but so do we and we're working on even better ones that are coming soon" vs. flat out saying we're behind.

Totally agree.  And let’s be honest, I doubt Farley would make the same comments publicly regarding vehicles that are actually publicly available in the USA.  He has said multiple times that China is the ultimate competition when it comes to EV’s.  Let’s hope that Ford’s strategy of bringing mass produced “affordable” and desirable EV’s to the market actually works.  

[Biker16]

Re: the Gen 2 EVs

My red flag is the lack of hard dates and timelines for the products based on this architecture. 

GM and VW will make their existing EV Platform the basis for their Future low-cost EV platform, while Ford is starting almost from scratch. This seems to be a higher risk than incremental improvements on existing mature platforms.