Ford’s CEO revealed he drives a “fantastic” Chinese-made electric vehicle and praised the company behind it.
While appearing last week on ‘The Fully Loaded Podcast,’ Jim Farley revealed that he drives a Xiaomi SU7 delivered from China.
“I don’t really like to talk about the competition, but I drive the Xiaomi,” Farley said.
“We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, I’ve been driving it for six months and I don’t want to give it up.”
“That’s an extraordinary thing to say, isn’t it?” Llewellyn responded while chuckling.
Robert Llewellyn interviewed Ford CEO Jim Farley on an episode of The Fully Charged Podcast
The Xiaomi SU7 (pictured) was first manufactured in December 2023 by Xiaomi, one of the largest smartphone companies in the world.
The car, which sells for about $30,000, debuted in December 2023 as Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle. The company is best known for being the second largest smartphone seller in the world. technology reported.
Xiaomi cars are not sold in the US, and the 100 percent tariff imposed on Chinese electric vehicles makes it difficult for Americans to buy them.
Farley explained his reasoning for driving a Xiaomi in a post on X.
‘I try to lead everything we compete against. I’ve done it my entire career,” he wrote. “Specs can tell part of a story, but you have to get behind the wheel to truly understand and beat the competition.”
Critics have not shared Farley’s enthusiasm for purchasing the ultra-modern car, nicknamed ‘Temu Tesla’ by one critic.
Jason Isaac, executive director of the American Energy Institute, said National Review Farley driving an internationally sourced electric vehicle is a “slap in the face” to Ford employees.
He called it “deeply concerning” that Farley does not support products produced by his own company.
Farley at the North American International Auto Show press day in Detroit, Michigan (pictured)
Others said they appreciated Farley’s honesty and no-nonsense perspective on the American electric vehicle industry.
“Jim Farley is probably the ONLY Western CEO who actually understands the current situation AND talks about it frankly,” one person commented on a video of his podcast interview.
Another added: “What an extraordinary opportunity to hear a CEO of a former car company be as transparent as can be, bringing to light the reality of Chinese car manufacturing and the dire need for change.”
On X, one user called Farley’s immersive approach “a great way to understand the competition and what customers like.”
The interior construction of the body of the Xiaomi SU7 (pictured). An X user referred to the car as a ‘Temu Tesla’
According XiaomiIt is a “C-Class luxury technological sedan” with high-tech equipment.
The dashboard “greets” drivers when they start the car and the vehicle has “Smart Drive” and “Boost” modes.
Its elegant design “aims not only for beauty, but also for drivability,” the website reads. The sedan is offered in a variety of vibrant colors, including ‘Meteor Blue’, ‘Radiant Purple’ and ‘Lava Orange’.
Ford produces three all-electric vehicle models: the Mustang Mach-E SUV, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit van. The company also offers several hybrid options.
In August, Ford announced it would shift its focus toward hybrid vehicles amid slowing demand for electric cars.
Ford abruptly canceled plans to produce a three-row electric SUV and delayed construction of a new electric vehicle plant in Tennessee.
Data collected by MailOnline revealed that global sales of electric vehicles have plummeted in recent months for three major manufacturers, as the public struggles to fall in love with the technology.
A yellow Xiaomi SU7 (pictured). Many people came up and praised Farley for his honest assessment of the industry and Xiaomi.
Despite long-term growth, Tesla saw its quarterly sales fall from a high of 484,500 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to just 386,800 in the first quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD, the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles, saw a drop in global sales earlier this year.
National Review reported that former President Donald Trump previously blacklisted Xiaomi after alleging that the company was linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s military.
Xiaomi went to court over the decision and the Biden administration eventually overturned it.