Ford eyes Chinese companies to strengthen markets outside the United States

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The American automaker Ford will expand its cooperation with Chinese automakers to strengthen overseas markets, while remaining vigilant about the entry of Chinese brands into the domestic market.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, as reported by Carscoops on Saturday, Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley assessed that Chinese car manufacturers now lead the industry in several important aspects.

“They lead the world in many things if you look at technology, cost, and the speed they do it,” Farley stated.

According to him, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, Xiaomi, and SAIC not only sell cars at lower prices but also develop products faster. Farley believes these companies excel in vehicle software, battery technology, and production efficiency that is hard to match by many other automakers.

On the other hand, Farley also warned that the US automotive industry will be affected, both in terms of manufacturing and jobs, if Chinese-made cars enter the US market on a large scale.

“This way it won’t be a fair fight,” Farley said in a separate interview with Fox News.

Therefore, Ford is said to want to utilise the technological advantages and efficiency of Chinese manufacturers through partnerships in foreign markets, while preparing strategies to face competition at home.

Ford currently has a large operational network in China and has established several partnerships with local companies. Such cooperation is seen as helping the company maintain competitiveness in regions like Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, and Mexico.

Farley stated that the most important step now is to prepare a plan before making major decisions regarding local production or imports from China.