Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford says Chinese automakers will eventually reach American showrooms, and the US auto industry must be ready to compete rather than rely on trade barriers.
Speaking at an Axios event in Washington, D. C.
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, the great-grandson of Henry Ford argued that protectionist measures won't keep Chinese brands out indefinitely.
Preparing for the Inevitable
“We have to go toe-to-toe with China,” Ford said, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“We can’t expect to keep them out forever, and we have to be able to beat them at their own game.”
Chinese cars are already sold in Canada and Mexico but remain locked out of the US market through tariffs and regulations.
US lawmakers are considering legislation that would effectively shut the door on Chinese vehicles.
Ford has publicly supported those efforts, citing concerns about protecting domestic manufacturing from rapidly improving Chinese automakers that are winning customers in Ford's overseas markets.
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Even without a meaningful US presence, Chinese manufacturers are influencing Detroit's strategies.
Ford is preparing a new affordable electric pickup, priced around $30,000, set to arrive in 2027.
The truck uses gigacasting and slimmed-down wiring looms to reduce production costs and improve efficiency.
Bill Ford also called for a more consistent long-term industrial strategy in the US, noting that automotive investments often take years to plan and execute.
“Our lead times are longer than political lead times,” Ford said.
Whether Chinese brands like the BYD Shark 6 truck, a success in Australia, will gain meaningful US access remains uncertain.
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But Ford believes preparing for that possibility is smarter than pretending it'll never happen.
