Ford and Trump Officials Discuss U.S.-Joint Venture Path for Chinese Automakers by 2026-02-13

Ford Motor Co. (F) CEO Jim Farley met with senior Trump administration officials at the Detroit Auto Show last month, discussing a potential road map for Chinese automakers to build vehicles in the U.S. through joint ventures with U.S. companies holding a controlling stake. Under the proposed structure, both partners would share profits and technology. The discussions, described as informal and preliminary, centered on a framework allowing Chinese carmakers to manufacture in the U.S. after initially facing strong domestic opposition. The White House has not decided, and administration officials expressed concerns over likely pushback in Congress and over privacy and national security. Ford has long sought to partner with Chinese firms to gain EV and battery expertise while protecting U.S. market share, exploring a 2027 low-cost EV aimed at competing with BYD. The company is expanding battery and manufacturing partnerships with BYD, Geely and CATL, and has denied talks of a U.S. JV with Xiaomi.