Ford CEO Warns US to Curb Chinese Automaker Entry, Says Europe 'Too Late'

Ford CEO Jim Farley said on September 29, 2026, that the US must be "extremely careful" about how Chinese automakers enter the American market, citing Europe's auto industry as a cautionary example where Chinese imports rapidly gained share. "It's too late" for European countries, he said at an Automotive News conference. Farley said Ford will partner with Chinese companies where capital-efficient, including battery maker CATL for a Michigan plant, while also competing with them directly. "They aren't mutually exclusive," he said. China is projected to export roughly 12 million cars in 2026, up from about 3 million in 2022. The US currently blocks Chinese vehicles via software bans and tariffs exceeding 100%, though industry lobbyists are pressing for a permanent ban.