Jim Farley says Ford has no future if it can’t compete with China’s EVs while speaking at Colorado event
Published on Aug 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Aug 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Jim Farley has warned that Ford will have no future if it’s unable to compete with the EVs coming out of China.
The American has been instrumental in pushing Ford forward into the next generation.
Ford’s CEO was one of the premier keynote speakers at this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival.
And it was at this Colorado event where he made the confronting admission.
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Jim Farley steers Ford into the next generation
Jim Farley has emerged as one of the car industry’s most prominent figures in recent years.
Farley took over the Ford CEO role in October of 2020, after which new models, including the 2025 Mustang GTD, have been released to rave reviews.
But it is in the arena of EVs that Ford has massively boosted its presence under Farley.
The Blue Oval marque has attempted to incorporate EVs very strongly into its main line-up.
For example, the Ford F-150 lightning was released in May 2022 to compliment the legendary F-150 truck.
At the end of June, Jim Farley attended the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado.
The Ford CEO being present was, of course, one of the event’s biggest highlights.
And Jim Farley very much seized the opportunity to discuss the progress Ford has made.
Ford CEO praises China’s EVs – and offers stark warning
During the panel event, Jim Farley was adamant that Ford has no future if it can’t compete with China’s EVs.
“It’s the most humbling thing I’ve ever seen”, Farley was quoted as saying.
“Seventy percent of all electric vehicles are made in China.”
“We are in a global competition with China…and if we lose this, then we do not have a future at Ford.”
It is a stark warning that reflects the incredible rate at which the Chinese EV industry has grown.
What makes the growth of Chinese EVs even more remarkable is the respect that it commands from one of the world’s most respected car brands.
And it appears to be a warning from Jim Farley that should be heeded by other brands too.
Since the beginning of the year, China’s EVs have absolutely stormed the global car market.
Brands like BYD are now out-selling Tesla in both Europe and the United Kingdom.
Xiaomi, another brand name-dropped by the Ford CEO, has created such demand that its YU7 secured nearly a quarter of a million orders in the first 18 hours of being announced.
That being said, Jim Farley has made a big commitment towards electrification, most recently with Ford’s announcement of the Model T moment.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
