The CEO of Ford revealed that he drives a ‘fantastic’ Chinese-made electric vehicle while praising the company behind it.
While appearing last week on Robert Llewellyn’s ‘The Fully Charged Podcast,’ Jim Farley revealed he drives a Xiaomi SU7 delivered from China.
‘I don’t like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi,’ Farley said.
‘We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and I’ve been driving it for six months now 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 in an episode of The Fully Charged Podcast
The Xiaomi SU7 (pictured) was first manufactured in December 2023 by Xiaomi, one of the world’s largest smartphone companies
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 world’s second-largest smartphone seller, Techloy reported.
Xiaomi’s 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 drive everything we compete against. Have done it my whole career,’ he wrote. ‘Specs can tell part of a story, but you’ve got to get behind the wheel to truly understand and beat the competition.’
Critics have not shared Farley’s excitement about his purchase of the ultra-modern car, dubbed a ‘Temu Tesla’ by one critic.
Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, told National Review that Farley driving an internationally sourced electric vehicle amount to a ‘ a slap in the face’ to Ford employees.
He called ‘deeply troubling’ that Farley is not supporting products produced by his own company.
Farley at press day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan (pictured)
Others said they appreciated Farley’s honesty and level-headed perspective on the American electric vehicle industry.
‘Jim Farley is probably the ONLY western CEO [to] truly understand the current situation AND speak it out frankly,’ one person commented on a video of his podcast interview.
Another added: ‘What a remarkable opportunity to listen to a CEO of a legacy car company being as transparent as he could be, bringing out the reality of Chinese car manufacturing and the dire need to 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 Xiaomi SU7’s body (pictured). One X user referred to the car as a ‘Temu Tesla’
According to Xiaomi, the car is a ‘C-class luxury technology sedan’ with high-tech features.
The dashboard ‘greets’ drivers when they turn on the car and the vehicle has ‘smart driving’ and ‘Boost’ modes.
Its sleek design is ‘not just for beauty, but also for the drive,’ the website reads. The sedan is offered in a variety of vibrant colors, including ‘Meteor Blue’, ‘Radiant Purple’ and ‘Lava Orange’.
Ford produces three full-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 will be shifting its focus to hybrid vehicles amid a slowing demand for electric cars.
Ford has abruptly cancelled plans to produce a three-row electric SUV, and has delayed building a new EV plant in Tennessee.
Data collected by MailOnline revealed that global electric vehicles sales have slumped in recent months for three top manufacturers, as the public struggles to fall in love with the technology.
A yellow Xiaomi SU7 (pictured). Many people came forward and praised Farley for his honest appraisal of the industry and Xiaomi
Despite growing steam long-term, Tesla saw quarterly sales fall from a peak of 484,500 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to just 386,800 in the first quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, Chinese car manufacturer BYD – the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles – saw global sales crash earlier this year.
National Review reported that former president Donald Trump previously blacklisted Xiaomi after alleging the company was tied to the Chinese Communist Party military.
Xiaomi went to court over the decision and the Biden administration ultimately reversed it.
