Jim Farley was great in this interview. He was transparent, took accountability, and laid the plan to move forward. This gave me faith in Ford's future.
Farley is a big contrast with Mary Barra of GM. He can bullsh1t when necessary but he's also realistic in public. She's more of a politician whose default setting seems to be BS - I've never heard her admit that GM did anything wrong, though they obviously have and are in big trouble.
The big take-away from the interview: Jim Farley shipped a Xiaomi to Chicago to test drive for 6 months and he doesn't want to give it up. OMG that's the biggest compliment and best piece of marketing Xiaomi could ever ask for
Honestly had a double take, can't think of any other automotive CEO that would admit that on a public interview. Amazing to have somebody that open and honest at the highest level of Ford. Bodes very well for the future of the company.
The fact that Jim was even able to admit this shows that he and ford realize just how much they need to do to compete. It's not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. You'd never see GM or Chrysler admit to something like this. It really makes me have faith that Ford can actually compete if they're willing to admit their shortcomings and work to catch up, rather than just lobby and bribe government to protect them like GM does.
In July 19th annual speech, CEO Lei Jun mentioned that the reason Xiaomi's first car is a coupe is because one of his employees told him that the Ford Mustang was the dream car. As a result, Xiaomi also decided to build a "Chinese Dream Car."
Holy crap!!! For the CEO of Ford to say he’s been driving a Chinese EV for the past 6 months and he doesn’t want to give it up is just Jaw dropping. I had to rewind it and hear it again. No other CEO would dare say what he just said. I’m shocked! 😳 But, he gets it!!! Well done sir! 👏
According to Sun Tze's Art of War, this kind of general is to be feared of. "know yourself and know your adversary; Be prepared, strategic, and skilled. Shall be undefeated in a hundred battles."
As an ex UK Ford apprentice (now pensioner) I am so pleased to hear Jim Farley speak with such a broad knowledge of his and other companies. A humble guy in the very best meaning of the word. Great interview!
Congratulations. What a remarkable opportunity to listen to a CEO of a legacy car company being as transparent as he could be, bringing out the reality of Chinese car manufacturing and the dire need to change. He came across really well as a car enthusiast, not wedded to ICE but proud of the heritage. He seems so normal! Good luck with arranging the next one. I am keen to see what Ford will offer in the small to medium categories.
@@stevecoinitin7521 No profit in them. Not much point in selling something you don't profit from. Jim said it in the interview, The bigger the vehicle the higher the profit.
@@ImLivinSD You're Livin in the past. ICE is tapped out and EVs are just beginning. If our politicians weren't paid by the oil industry we'd be ahead of the Chinese by now.
What a great listen and what a refreshing change to hear a US Global CEO be so open and honest about his company's situation in the face of the challenging and rapidly growing global competition.
I also am not a big fan of Ford and their product lines (especially past 25 yrs) but Jim is certainly ready to make Ford turn over a new leaf and start doing it right... a tad slow (but understandable) but it is now time for them to "Floor It" and get on with delivering what people actually "Want & Can Afford".
Ford is just the best,the 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback is amazing and the new Ford Mustang Mach1 ist just mindblowing amazing and extremly great looking!
Ford needs to knock off the Data Capturing and remote kill switches sending to Ins Co's I will never buy an EV so long as they keep giving up customers data. And they wonde why sales have tanked ! No trust.
This was a mindblowing interview. It is amazing to hear how Jim Farley is now fully embracing the EV and agreed that they had dropped the ball in the first round of EV's. I am far more excited now for Ford in that they will be designing an EV. The other fact he is driving other brands of EV to me shows how passionate he is and understanding of what they need to do to make great EV's. Thank you for getting this interview.
@@markgt894 Part of the reason is the high prices of new EVs. There are going to be lower priced models coming to market which will fare better. It's (apostrophe meaning it is) a new industry, give it time.
@@markgt894 Tesla Model 3 is cheaper than a Prius and a Corolla within a few years of use. According to the UK AA, in 2024 a new ICE car will lose around 60% after its first three years at a mileage of 10,000 miles a year. The Tesla Model X after three years loses only 43%. Model 3 is one of the brand’s best for withstanding EV depreciation at 40% after three years.Tesla Model Y retains 76% of its value after a year and a half. In UK the current market share for new cars registered with a plug in 2024 is 26%. 23% of buyers said there next purchase will be an EV, and 59% intend to buy an EV within next 2 years. ICE sales are plummeting - Ford had a 10.1% market share with 2019’s H1 total of nearly 128,000 new cars registered. The 2024 H1 figure for Ford is 56,735 new cars, and none of their EVs are profitable. Model Y IS still the best selling vehicle in the world...
Great interview! I’m a foreigner living and working in Shanghai. Drive a NIO and work closely on Ford related projects here in China. I admire Jim so much. He really does understand China and what’s been unfolding here over the past 10 years. Excited to see what the skunkworks team bring to market.
21:40 Xiaomi had a sellable car in 3 yrs from scratch. Tesla took a lot longer. Aptera still hasn't come out after 12+yrs. VW ID Buzz took a long time as well. It's impressive how fast China can produce a working model that is quite good.
I doubt the Xiaomi car was designed and engineered from scratch. There is so much off the shelf EV tech in China, they just needed to buy bits and pieces and set it up.
A lesson for companies like Aptera is that you can’t go on with endless iterations before you come up with a product. At some point you need a sellable product on the market and some income. You can’t burn investor cash endlessly.
Great interview. Love how honest and transparent Farley is here. It's also good to hear that Ford clearly recognises the challenge from Chinese automakers and they are working and investing to face it head on. Many other carmakers have their head in the sand.
As a Sinologist I've been working on "China issues" for 25+ years. I followed the electrification of their motor vehicles since the first use of lead-acid batteries over 20 years ago used in bicycles, mopeds, scooters, followed by small 3-wheel and 4-wheel "box-cars" costing $1.5-2.5k $USD (almost bought one), and now NEV's, EV's of all kinds ... [Tidbit: To this day you have to be careful walking on sidewalks not to trip over extension cords from homes and apartments (even from 2nd & 3rd story) out to the street charging cars and motorcycles.] ...AND licensed - battery - VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) passenger drones (some autonomous) to support China's LOW ALTITUTE ECONOMY already worth $ billions and coming into operation with demonstration projects in some cities. Drone delivery services are already in place for consumer purchases, food delivery, etc. in some places. Their Low Altitude Economy is YEARS ahead of the West for which I believe most countries governments don't even know exists as one of China's 4th Industrial Revolution economic development streams and identified in their most recent 5-Year Economic Development Plan. ALL of these developments are happening in plain sight of the world's governments, vehicle manufactures, think tanks, consultants, academia, Corp. Media, militaries, litterly everyone. All of those "so-called" Neocolonial experts, CEO's raking in the millions, business leaders, oligarchs, et al. They are also covered by open media in China, other countries of the Global South, and even on social media like Bilibili, RU-vid, Facebook, "X", Instagram, and others. It's ALL there to research and see! So. Where and what were Western automakers and all those "glorious" experts noted above doing all this time as their market shares in China were crumbling and didn't have a clue why? Like nearly all technological advancements - EVERYHTING - in China, they were living the exceptinal, superior lives couched in American Hegemony. Folk. They really screwed this one up and with their shrinking global markets, it's questionable if they can generate sulffient capital to sustain competitive R&D and survive. Boy did my grandfather love Desoto's! With the West's hostility and economic sanctions against China growing at all fronts, let's see how far China goes toward implementing the "nuclear" equivalency of cutting off Western imports into the largest consumer market in the World. People with lots of money to burn. I recall 30 million new consumers this year, and more in 2025 while the Western middle class buying power is in decline for the foreseable future. The West and most people don't have a clue that we live in a Multipolar World divided between the Global North and Global South. The Global South, referred to as the GLOBAL MAJORITY is comprised of 88% of the world's population that will generate most of the economic development and wealth for the rest of this century and beyond. The West, the Global North is referred to as the GLOBAL MINORITY (essentially former White Colonial powers who colonized and destroyed many of their countries over the centuries). The GLOBAL MAJORITY (essentially countries of color) are telling us to stop interfering with their sovereignty and people's human right of self-determination without outside intervention. The point being is that China has 88% of the world's population to trade with and doesn't need anything from us to survive and prosper. ---------- RECENT CHINA EV TRIP [Many EV's in China are like an "Information Ecosystem" on wheels", or maybe an IoT (Internet of Things) device on wheels. They are "Lifestyle Mobile Abodes" keeping you connected to activities of daily living.] We recently returned from 5 weeks across China traveling to a variety of cities from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, to Yunnan Province, Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La, etc. next to Tibet. EV's everywhere including many China specific brands not known by the West but very popular in their respective regions such as the "Beijing" brand (they were pretty nice), Wonderful new SMART brand models, and cool, cute pastel color city cars with all sorts of wild and crazy graphics all over the place. These brands are the typical middle class brands and have been around for many decades. You have unlikely never heard of them. Low cost, nicely built, attractive looking, but lacking all the high tech. Essentially a nice car, durable over time, easy to maintain, comfortable to live with but including an EV drivetrain. We drove in a few. Malls is the place to go with multiple EV competetors set up next to each other. 7 brands inluding Tesla in one mall. Throughout our trip there were many Tesla's in cool colors not available here, All of the NEV companies were packed with young people EXCEPT for Tesla! We spent a lot of time with staff and talked with a few young single and family consumers + young friends we know. Anecdotally... To a person they had little interest in Tesla. The CN brands are more advanced, better, more attractive designs with superior appointments - almost all were leather, and tailored to young "IT infrastructure connected lifestyles", to their friends, family, work, smart homes, entertainment, keeping the kids happy, etc. (kids were having a blast watching movies, playing video games). They were saying Tesla has lost its "connection to the needs of many of the young Chinese people" and now think of Tesla as the brand their older parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles would buy! Let me think. Maybe like a Ford Galaxy or Chevy Impala! Tesla, designated the "yawner" EV by up and coming Chinese professionals and their young families with lots of money. Some don't care about new batteries, more range, etc. Boring.... The new Xiaomi SU7 (3 trim levels = $30-35-40k USD compared to its Porsche rival at well over $100,000 USD) is now out and seems a favorite. You see many. Zeeker, their whole line seems popular, the Huawei brand (can't think of the name now) is all over and Huawei has expanded its tech architecture into another cool brand with slick aggressive sports coupe designs. Of course BYD is there in abundance with a number of models not known in the West. Larger Xiaomi and Huawei Smart Phone/Computer/Lifestyle stores (look similar to Apple stores) will show off and sell their cars together! BTW, we can negotiate prices and perks in ways you can't in the US. In China, price negotiation can be part of the fun and can last over several cups of tea! The engineering, attention to details including under the hood with electrical wiring and gorgeous connectors, fit and finish was up to the best the West has to offer including the German brands for example. Our next trip in 2025 we plan to rent several of our favorites for some extended driving around the country. Here in the US, we've given up plans to buy an EV, other than maybe the new Volvo though many of the other Chinese brands really spoil you knowing you're getting ripped off in the US and West.
This post made you sound very intelligent until you stated you would consider a Volvo ev right at the end. It just boggles my mind that brand loyalty will outplay every sensible decision making ability people have. It’s like a spell being cast over people.
Excellent res[ponse indeed. You are SO RIGHT when you talk about how the west does not even look at what China is doing and has really been up to, like the Low Altitude Ecnomy with food deliveries right to you ordered via a cell phone app. Didn't mention how much quite the streets & roads are or that you can have a whisper conversation on the side of a road in Downtown Big Chinese Cities. Fact is China is a Massive Idea Incubator & Tester that everyone can learn from ! They sure had miserable failures (Ride Sharing cars for one) but the successes FAR outweigh the goofs. Some Western Nations wish they could do what the Chinese have managed to do and are furious they can't get there.
This was also me... Had a Chevy Volt PHEV (known as the Opel Ampera in the rest of the world) for 7 years. It was unfortunately totaled in an accident. But that experience made me realize a full EV would be fine for my use. Ended up with a Model 3 highland.
@@calvinang1 What is that state exactly? Ford isn't doing bad compare to all other Competitors. Their Stock value remains pretty flat with a really good Dividend. Stellantis by far in the worst position. VW and BMW have to shut down factories, and Nissan said they are literally not making any profit.
The real problem is this, I noticed living in china for 2 years now that they've launched/iterated cars like we have software, but even faster. new car models are coming out every single quarter, and even same models are refreshing every single 2 years. its ridiculous product cycles I can't even wrap my mind around.
Farley is, by far, the best ICE CEO. Yet he too, thinks in the past: Ford no longer makes “a million” pickups; the top-selling vehicle in North America is not a pickup, a Ford, or EVen an ICE vehicle. ICE CEOs still live - and work - in a very wealthy bubble. p.s. Farley “drives” with a chauffeur.
Good interview. I like Jim Farley. His main problem is the legal requirement to retain dealers. His second problem is the need for vertical integration (or some sort of component integration). Everything else is fixable at Ford, but can they change fast enough. There is a genuine race on and I think Jim knows it.
How do you fix over priced unreliable cars and trucks. They are right inline with VW poor quality, poor reliabiliy, poor Dealerships robbing people with over priced under performing cars. There is No Fixing this situation.
Fascinating. So refreshing to hear from a major western motor CEO who is not in denial, and is so frank and candid about the challenge. Including the over-sizing/over-pricing of gen 1 EVs. Look forward to seeing the gen 2 ford products.
Very impressive guy. Grounded in reality by intent. Open, curious, approachable and intelligent. Opposite of the expected big, institutionally captured CEO.
Wait till Trump gets in office, this will all have been a bad joke, Jim is cowtowing to his Investors and Big Govt. All gonna chang once Trump takes over. EVs are a dead end literally.
I'm from China also a big fan of the new Mustang. In fact Xiaomi's CEO Leijun also commented that he wanted to build a mass popular sports car like Mustang in China. What the odds!
Robert this is the most FASCINATING interview I have ever seen on Fully Charged! Sounds like Ford/Skunkworks are going to make a big contribution to the spread of EVs in the coming years. So excited!!
Brilliant! To hear the CEO of Ford say he's been driving a Chinese car for 6 months and doesn't want to give it up is amazing. It's refreshing to know that a massive car company like Ford hasn't just stuck it's head in the sand and assumed there is no competition to worry about.
Fascinating interview, Robert. Thanks so much. Jim really gets it and every time I hear him talk about the industry my respect for him goes up. Whether Ford exists in 10 years' time is debatable but I think that if any one can keep them afloat then it's Jim. What a humble gentleman. More interviews with Jim, please!
Ian, this was a superb interview. Your skills are amazing but this Jim Farley is a real communicator. He treads a really difficult path negotiating what will be massive change in employment , engineering and transportation. Thank you our Australian politicians should open their minds and listen to this balanced discourse. Thanks heaps.
Jim makes a great point about Chinese commitment to electrification. They've been at it for at least a decade, and often two, and more. I think it was Goldman Sachs, the other day, which reported on battery prices coming down. And it was so wafer thin in its validity. At no point was there any significance of CATL or BYD, who are 1st and, 2nd or 3rd battery manufacturers in the world depending on who you read. I'm pretty sure they would have something to say, and their prices were and are a lot lower than GS suggested. Western companies are still playing down or omitting the significance of Chinese manufacturing. Incidentally, as a person who lives in the UK, I'm glad that we are not into protectionism. We're not aiming to put extra invented tariffs on Chinese imports. Oh, and that Xiaomi SU7 is stunning. China fast.!
@@chrispapanastasopoulos9192 Not strictly true. Just the Home manufacturers have died. Nissan, Jaguar, Peugeot, Ford and Others I can't remember, all manufacture in the UK. And they don't want tariffs either.
This was a great one. Listened on my podcast player and immediately came over here to YT to let you guys know how great of an interview Farley is. Get him back some day!
Wow, what a cool CEO. Makes me want to buy a Ford. I saw the Explorer on the road yesterday. I have to say, it is really good looking! Great podcast, cheers 👏
Jim Farley is a great guest to have on and kudos for getting one of the most senior people in the automotive industry on your channel. Obviously Jim puts a Ford spin on everything he says. At times it was a bit like a Fox interview with Trump. The numbers are the big issue for all those ostriches out there who think that EVs are fashion fad and will be gone by next spring. China is all in on EVs and that effectively means everyone else needs to be. Hybrids for some people might be a transition vehicle, but there after market value in a few years time will be very low as people realise twice the complexity equals twice the cost. Overall a good update on EVs and Ford.
Never thought I would hear an OEM CEO speak such words. Jim sounds clear eyed, with open ears. Realist and not pretentious. Lady and gentlemen OEM CEOs, take notes!
I am a diehard Tesla user for many years now but I have to tell you after listening to Jim and his knowledge and is astute understanding of the market and the customer needs I would absolutely consider a Ford in my next electric purchase
Jim is right about EVs being fun to drive. “My wimpy” Chevy Bolt brings a grin to my face just driving around town. Instant acceleration even at highway speeds, rarely using the brake thanks to regeneration, throwing the car around curves at high speeds because the weight is very low, passing gas stations without a second thought, and more. But the sorry state of American fast charging definitely hurts. Even with access to most of Tesla’s Superchargers, I’m still reluctant to take my Bolt on longer trips.
I own a Bolt and a Model 3 and roadtripping the Bolt is very reminiscent of roadtripping in the 80s where you had to thoroughly map and plan out the trip. Because of risk of full or broken stations, you have to plan for a backup charging location. That all said the Bolt is a great EV hot hatch.
I'm not surprised you wouldn't want to road trip a Bolt. The DCFC is horribly slow! I have a Kona and the Bolt makes it seem fast. Even if you have the patience of a saint, how easy it'd be depends on where you live and where you're going. For me I check A Better Route Planner, and if there are any smaller locations I check PlugShare at the suggested locations and along the route for alternatives. Good news is that infrastructure has continued to improve so all my trips beyond range would now be easier than they were.
@@Cakebattered NACS adapter a big help for a lot of people. I look forward to getting one for my EV, even though I have quite a few V2s north and east of me where I'd need CCS instead.
@@Cakebattered Hot hatch is exactly what I think of our Chevy Bolt. We got a lightly used '22 Bolt EV a couple of weeks ago to replace an old Mazda 3 that my wife refused to drive. Normally she commuted in a Honda Odyssey minivan at 19mpg at best. Now I can barely lever her out of the Bolt's driving seat, at 4 miles/kWh (or better).
Love the fact that Jim speaks about the competition with respect and understands what they are bringing to the table as well....he truely listens to the customers and builds cars that they need! I also was very interested in how people in the US by hybrids to help power their homes when disaster strikes! Why buy a generator that sits in the back yard and is used once in a blue moon when you can use your car as a generator! Genius!
Because excessive use of the battery for that use will degrade the battery even faster. P2V will degrade your battery but I guess if you don't have that cheap generator your Expensive EV which you rely on for work will do. The Stupidity of this impresses even me.
For the CEO of one of the worlds greatest car makers, he is very down to earth and easy to listen to. He’s very honest in his appraisal of how Ford sits against the competition. An awesome podcast!
I’m a Tesla fan boy but I have always loved listening to Jim Farley. I understand he’s the CEO of Ford however I find he’s integrity and willingness to openly talk about ford, its competition and the automotive industry very refreshing. I am cheering Ford on and believe with Jim a the helm Ford will still be here in 25 years time.
People Lets Welcome 🇨🇳 BYD and NIO to USA 🇺🇸 and make competition in USA, Peace for USA 🇺🇸 and China 🇨🇳 relationship and Fair Trade between 2 Countries. I Pray for China 🇨🇳 and USA 🇺🇸 Relationship between both countries. The world needs to welcome and Appreciated new companies in their Countries. Not make trade Wars and Getting Jealous from other countries.
Great interview. Farley seems very switched onto the global challenge presented by Chinese engineering companies, but where are the small EVs from Ford that the world needs?
Thank you for this interview. As a Tesla owner who has become impatient and frustated by the antics of its founder, I always enjoy hearing any conversations with Tim Farley. I find him a humble and very articulate man within the industry, and right now, he is Ford's greatest assett during this transition. I wish him and the company he leads the best.
Jim Farley is such a good advert for ambitious engineers to join Ford. When he says "What rights do we have to win?", that shows a wisdom that many CEOs lack. He is not trying to compete by misleading customers, or relying on govt support, or trying to capture some nationalism to buy inferior products. Instead he is saying "We will compete with our fellow earthlings as people of one planet. We will compete with respect and service, providing products that are truly worth having"
Wow! I hung on every sentence he made, he didn't sound like a car salesman which was refreshing, and was man enough to admit that western manufacturers missed the opportunity to take note of what China had started a decade ago. I have been told the reason they went the ev way, is because they realized it would take too long to make ice engines sophisticated enough to compete with all the different categories sold in the west, when they already knew ice was close to reaching it's pinnacle, so to speak.
It was all the roadblocks from all the patents in the hundred years development in the ICE cars that make it impossible to make. They can get around those patents but it'll take too much time, effort and cost. With EV's everybody is at the same starting gate!
Thank you Robert and Jim for a great conversation highlighting the contrasts both within Europe in driving styles, and also the the contrasts between charging in Europe vs the US. Jim, It has been my experience as a Tesla owner that long distance drives like what you described doing in California have been worry free for me when using the Tesla route planner. From it I get an exact address (plus FSD using the navigation data) just gets me right where I can get charged up, and invariably find food plus clean restrooms, AND I KNOW the price to charge even before I go based on the time of day. It's all just built in. Bottom line, Jim groks the automotive industry better than all of his traditional OEM peers. Period.
More Jim Farley interviews please, he’s so down to earth about the place of EVs in the market place. I have a question for him for next time………… if petrolised EVs (in effect range extended EVs in the Nissan E-Force way) are so good then why isn’t Ford putting them into Fiesta/ Focus sized cars where there is no space to take a huge battery that can do the occasional 200 mile trip without needing to use expensive public charging?
"The place of EVs in the market"? That's the answer of someone trying to keep everyone happy. "Petrolised EVs" are Fossil Fuel Hybrids" Fiesta/ Focus? If there's room for an engine, it's ancillaries and a fuel tank, there's room for an appropriate EV system.
Ah, cultural differences. There's, of course, absolutely nothing wrong with saying "Enjoy your country and your children" as a sign off. Yes, I wish you a pleasant environment and your family every success as well. These are great sentiments that you're expressing. But it's just so not-British to say something like that out loud. "Well, see you around, Dave. Enjoy your country and your children." "What?" "Enjoy your country and your children." "Umm, okay. Sure, why not? Thank you for your good wishes, I guess." Don't get me wrong. Brits probably should say things like this out loud more often and I appreciate that American honesty and politeness. Keep up the good work, America. But if it had been Robert saying that to you then I'd be wondering if he was feeling okay. Enjoy your country and your children, folks!
The statement from Jim about his Xiaomi has caused quite a storm on Twitter. I’ve seen it shared and discussed by some of the American pro-EV accounts and so far the reaction has been very positive. It has been seen as a position of strength that a CEO would be so open about how he knows who the competition are and what Ford needs to do to match them.
Jim Farley, than you for taking the time to have this talk! In the past I’ve driven a Ford Ranger and an Explorer, both great vehicles. I would like to purchase American-made vehicles in the future, but that isn’t easy anymore. Because we have a lot of solar panels on our house so energy for our cars is basically free (paid for by savings from electricity for the house), it doesn’t make financial sense for my wife and I to drive anything but EVs anymore. I need a very basic, Ford Maverick or Ranger-sized, EV, work pickup. My wife likes the Bolt but would like faster charging for road trips. We are doing well financially but are putting our extra cash into building our business, savings, early retirement and in-country travel. We can’t justify spending over $40,000 for a vehicle. Can you please make a no frills, small EV hatchback and a small pickup that Americans can actually afford?
Also, if any of the battery ventures that Ford becomes involved with work out, could you get your battery producer to make an affordable, 30 or larger kWh home storage battery? The lack of an affordable, reasonably-sized, home storage battery is holding back the adoption of solar power. And solar and home batteries are the gateway drugs for EV adoption!
First discussion of EV I’ve heard that makes sense. Jim Farley is definitely a genius in the automotive industry on the order of Henry Ford. Gives me hope for the American automotive industry. I had almost given up on an American cars. Just want to add there will not be a large scale change to EV until there is a charging grit that competes with liquid fuels
Jim Farley is the CEO we all want. He is so in touch with reality. Everyone else is trying to deny fact and delay the inevitable, including the politicians advancing protectionist measures.
Amazing conversation - including the experience of driving in Italy - from 30 years ago I thought it was me. I had a Transit as a run around for many years.
Thanks for that great interview, really interesting insights that give some substance to what I use to tell people 😉 Being raised in a car environment in Stuttgart and having worked in the car industry myself I‘ve chosen a different path since and I can relate to the discussion within the Farley-family about „why don’t you drive…?“. What Jim Farley tells here makes me want to work for him, it is what I more or less told people ever since I saw Tesla on the IAA in Frankfurt: BEVs are the future and whoever sticks with ICE is doomed. And for the Chinese cars I always told people who ridiculed these cars that I remember them laughing at Korean cars only some years earlier which was a warning for how quickly the Koreans learned and evolved. By the way you don‘t have to travel to Australia to see how fundamentally the consumer preferences have already changed, it must be painfully visible for any „ICE-disciple“ in places like Denmark or even right in front of my house: ICE is gone and will not return. The only thing I regret is not having switched earlier to a BEV or having invested into Tesla after the IAA back in the time… 😅 So good to hear that Ford has accepted the challenge. I am sure they will prevail, just not quite that confident with VW (not yet enough right signals visible) am critical about Stellantis (too many brands with too many problems) and afraid that Mercedes will lose a lot of ground, the „luxury-strategy“ will downsize the company. As for BMW the „Neue Klasse“ could be what will make them succeed over Audi and Mercedes.
A legacy of looking the other way and remaining blinkered by hubris are all signposts pointing towards a fall. It’s refreshing to see that Jim Farley has a grass roots understanding of all that.
