Ford's chief executive praises Xiaomi's latest car SU7 to the skies. He calls it 'fantastic'. But others call the rose "a slap in the face".
For almost six months, Ford CEO Jim Farley has been driving around an electric car from the Chinese technology company Xiaomi, which has sparked criticism.
In a new podcast, he praised the car and said that he has shorted it for six months and would rather not return it. However, the statement has received a mixed reception and met with opposition from several sides.
Jason Isaac of the American Energy Institute has been among the most critical voices. He expresses concern that a director of an American automaker is endorsing a Chinese electric car, especially when Ford is receiving large tax-funded subsidies at the same time.
According to Isaac, it is "a slap in the face" to both US manufacturers and taxpayers, as the US market traditionally tries to promote domestic production. This criticism points out that Ford's choice to invest in electrification and receive government subsidies should be followed by a clear support for American cars rather than foreign models.
The New York Post writes that.
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Ford director Jim Farley has previously advocated a switch to electric cars in the American market and Ford's investment in the development of its own electric car models.
However, the fact that he drives a car from a foreign manufacturer raises questions about Ford's strategy and their commitment to the national transformation. For some, Farley's choice represents a possible mismatch between Ford's electrification ambitions and support for American manufacturing forces.
Ford has not yet officially commented on the criticism, but the case is sparking debate about the balance between global competition and national support for the industry.
It is particularly the question of the Chinese car's technology and price level compared to American models that is highlighted as a challenge at a time when competition for the electric car market is intense. With the price of the Xiaomi car, which is estimated to be approximately 160,000 Danish kroner, critics also point out that this type of chore toy can have a great impact on the market.
Jim Farley's use of a foreign electric car is therefore seen as a potential challenge to Ford's reputation and future strategy in the American market.
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