Ford and Xiaomi denied rumors of talks about electric car production in the US
Ford and Xiaomi denied the publication by the Financial Times from January 31, which claimed that the companies discussed setting up a joint venture to produce electric cars in the US. The article, citing four sources, also said that Ford allegedly held similar talks with BYD and other Chinese car manufacturers.
What is known
Ford's Director of Public Relations, Mark Truby stated on social media X that this story is completely false and baseless. A Xiaomi representative emphasized that the company does not sell its products and services in the US and is not negotiating entering this market.
FT claimed that the talks were preliminary, but did not provide any timelines or locations for them. It was also not specified whether the talks referred to the period after Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025 or while Joe Biden's administration was still in office. According to the publication, the joint venture could be a way for Xiaomi to bring its SU7 and YU7 electric vehicle series to the American market.
Even a hypothetical partnership between one of the 'Detroit Big Three' and a Chinese tech company would face significant resistance in the US. Under the Biden administration, rules were approved that effectively prohibit the use of China-related automotive software and equipment starting in 2027. Additionally, the US has imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, temporarily increased to 145% under Trump.
Despite the official denial of the negotiations, Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley has openly spoken about the strength of the Chinese auto industry and personally praised Xiaomi. In 2024, he mentioned that he imported an SU7 to the US for personal use and did not want to part with it, also calling Chinese car manufacturers an existential threat to the global industry.
Meanwhile, Ford states that it is ready to compete directly with Chinese brands. In 2025, the company introduced a new EV platform and announced the first production electric vehicle based on it—a mid-size pickup truck with a target price of around $30,000. However, the company abandoned the larger electric pickup F-150 Lightning.
Source: Automotive World
