Ford Warns America Can't Always Block Chinese Cars
JAKARTA - Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford reminded the United States automotive industry not to continue to rely on import tariffs and regulations as a shield from competition from Chinese car manufacturers. According to him, this protection will not last forever so that the Detroit-based manufacturer must start preparing for direct competition.
In an event held by Axios in Washington, DC, Bill Ford said American car manufacturers cannot assume that Chinese brands will continue to be outside the US market. He judged that a more appropriate step is to present products that can compete with Chinese automotive companies that are now growing very fast.
"We have to deal directly with China. We can't hope to keep blocking them forever, and we have to be able to beat them at their own game," Ford said, quoted by The Wall Street Journal, Friday, July 17.
On the other hand, members of the United States Congress are discussing a draft law that could further restrict the entry of Chinese-made vehicles into the domestic market. Bill Ford openly supports this move on the grounds of protecting the domestic manufacturing sector from the pressure of Chinese automotive manufacturers who are increasingly aggressive in expanding into various countries through competitive technology and more affordable prices.
Although it does not have a large presence in the United States, the Chinese carmaker is said to have influenced the direction of the strategies of manufacturers in Detroit. Ford itself is preparing an affordable electric pickup truck that is targeted to launch in 2027 with a price tag of around 30,000 US dollars.
The model will adopt new production methods such as gigacasting as well as a simpler electrical system to reduce manufacturing costs while improving efficiency. On the same occasion, Bill Ford also emphasized the importance of a more consistent long-term automotive industry policy in the United States.
According to him, the vehicle development process takes years so that it is often not in line with policy changes that follow the political cycle. "Our waiting time is longer than the political waiting time," said Ford.
Until now, there is no certainty whether Chinese brands and models, including the BYD Shark 6 pickup truck which has dimensions similar to the Ford Ranger and is successful in the Australian market, will gain wider access to the United States. However, Bill Ford considers preparing for this possibility to be much wiser than assuming that the competition will never come.