Ford CEO Jim Farley drove Chinese pickup trucks for three days and admitted they are more competitive than he would like
Published on Mar 23, 2026 at 12:22 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 02, 2026 at 6:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
While it might seem like professional disloyalty, when Ford CEO Jim Farley spent three days driving Chinese hybrid pickup trucks, he came to one unavoidable conclusion – and they aren’t to be underestimated.
On a visit to Australia, Farley got behind the wheel of several Chinese pickups, including the BYD Shark 6 and the GWM Cannon Alpha.
But this was no mere PR exercise.
He had some honest thoughts about the cars, which he shared publicly, and those thoughts can tell us a lot about the future of cars – keep scrolling to find out his unique POV.
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Chinese trucks are ‘different animals’
There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about cars coming out of China, as Western companies find themselves pondering whether they need to up their game – keep reading to find out what surprised the automotive SEO.
Importing a Chinese EV into the US is notoriously difficult, but there’s no guarantee that it can be delayed forever.
With 70 percent of US auto executives expressing concern about Chinese EVs, it’s clear that some worry is on the rise.
And if these executives were reading the Australian press recently, their fears wouldn’t have been eased.
After driving BYD Shark 6 and the GWM Cannon Alpha on his trip in Australia, Jim Farley told the country’s press that Chinese trucks were ‘different animals’ and ‘surprisingly competitive’.
But he’s not totally at panic stations yet, as he maintained that companies like Ford and Toyota still had a big advantage thanks to decades of experience.
“They haven’t been doing it, like our Ranger or the Hilux, for decades,” Farley said.
“They don’t have all the chassis know-how, all the towing and payload, and all the experience.”
This is a contrast to a previous statement in which he described feeling ‘humbled’ by the country’s EV output.
A complete history of electric vehicles
1832–1839: Early electric vehicles developed by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson and American inventors—rudimentary battery-powered carriages
1890: William Morrison builds a six-passenger electric wagon in the US, sparking interest in electric cars
1900: Electric cars make up around 28% of all vehicles on American roads—popular in cities for their quiet operation
1912: Detroit Electric releases models with 80-mile ranges, making EVs practical for daily driving
1960s: Interest in EVs wanes as cheap gasoline and internal combustion cars dominate
1970s: Oil crises revive interest in alternative fuels, including early electric prototypes
1990: California mandates zero-emission vehicles, leading to GM EV1 and similar experiments
1996: GM EV1 becomes the first mass-produced modern EV, available via lease in California
2008: Tesla Roadster debuts with 244-mile range, proving electric sports cars can compete with gasoline vehicles
2010: Nissan Leaf launches as the first mass-market EV with worldwide availability
2012: Tesla Model S introduces long-range luxury EVs and over-the-air software updates
2016: Chevrolet Bolt EV offers affordable 200+ mile range, pushing EV adoption
2018: Jaguar I-PACE proves electric SUVs can compete with luxury gas models
2020: Porsche Taycan combines EV performance with iconic brand heritage
2021: Rivian R1T and R1S bring adventure-ready electric trucks and SUVs
2022: Lucid Air Dream Edition sets new benchmarks for range and luxury in EVs
2023: Global EV sales surpass 10 million units, signaling mainstream adoption
2024: Solid-state battery prototypes begin testing, promising higher energy density and faster charging
2025 (expected): EVs projected to reach price parity with combustion cars as battery costs drop below $100/kWh
The Ford CEO has been outspoken about Chinese cars in the past
Farley has spoken out before about the matter of China’s cars, warning that Chinese EV makers like BYD and Xiaomi were ‘completely dominating’ the market.
He’s also admitted to taking apart a Chinese EV in order to learn more about it – and coming to a stark realization.
It’s not just him who is waking up to the changing landscape of the automotive world.
A lot of people are taking notice, from the CEO of General Motors to your average Joe in Massachusetts.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
