Ford CEO Jim Farley Agrees With Fox News Host That Canada 'Sold Their Soul'

[electricpig]

All due respect I don't know that they 'took their beating and improved...' Big three consistently rank low for quality/reliability. Maybe they did improve from where they were before but so did the competition. I feel they spent all of their time/resources on fighting the other companies vs. learning from them.

Oh yes, American cars are far better now than when the Japanese entered the market. There was no such thing as a 60K warranty. IIRC new car warranty was 12 months 10K miles. Few vehicles lived more than 5 years. I had an 83 Chevy that got oil changes at 3K miles, that was ready for scrap at 60K miles. Burned oil like crazy. It also had a check engine light come.on 2 days after it was bought new, that was never properly resolved. Dealer NEVER figured out the problem. American cars were considered worn out by that milage. much better now, and much more complex.

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[DaBlue357]

I'm trying to figure out who is going to benefit and who is going to lose by protecting Ford or GM. It certainly isn't going to be the people who drive trucks or the size of their wallet.

We used to live in an economical world where competition was seen as a virtue. Capital interests have really undermined the American psyche to be pointing fingers at Canada.

As a USA guy, I'm embarrassed really. We all know who really has lost it's soul.

 

[Kev12345]

its unreal to think the position Tesla could be in today had the CEO kept his mouth shut and focused on building some new vehicle platforms. what a colossal missed opportunity for American auto. When it comes to American EV's, everything really does hinge on the success of the R2!

 

[msingh]

Oh yes, American cars are far better now than when the Japanese entered the market. There was no such thing as a 60K warranty. IIRC new car warranty was 12 months 10K miles. Few vehicles lived more than 5 years. I had an 83 Chevy that got oil changes at 3K miles, that was ready for scrap at 60K miles. Burned oil like crazy. It also had a check engine light come.on 2 days after it was bought new, that was never properly resolved. Dealer NEVER figured out the problem. American cars were considered worn out by that milage. much better now, and much more complex.

Not saying they are not better-what I am saying is that they are still behind the competition i.e. the Japanese. So while it may be that the new watermark for the Big Three is 100K, the Japanese are pushing much higher than that. Just look at the listing of 10 ten vehicles that go 200K plus. The goal post is always moving, and if B3 just continue to keep pace, they are not really improving.

Look at even Tesla. So it can be done. It's a matter of taking on the challenge vs. the marketing mumbo jumbo about blithering about Chinese EV's or how Canada sold their soul....he as the guy in charge fumbled the ball. Full stop.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

Ford CEO Jim Farley Agrees With Fox News Host That Canada 'Sold Their Soul'

By Brett Foote
April 14, 2026 11:45 am

Early this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney opted to slash that country's tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles, and allow for the sale of up to 49,000 units of models coming from that country - a number that will grow to around 70,000 in the next five years. This comes after Canada previously placed a de facto ban on such vehicles, which is currently the case in the U.S., due to its high tariffs and a ban on connected vehicles containing Chinese hardware or software. Now, Ford CEO Jim Farley is among a few criticizing Canada's decision.

In a recent interview with Fox News, reporter Brian Kilmeade said "Canada sold their soul to China, right?" Farley resounded by saying "Yeah, I mean they have a policy where they're going to allow some limited imports of Chinese vehicles, and I sure hope we don't allow them to come across the border."

In the same interview, Farley added that "we should not let them into our country, because the economic impact...manufacturing is the heart and soul of our country. And for us to lose that...to those exports, would be devastating for our country. That doesn't even include the cyber and privacy risk of a Chinese vehicle. All the vehicles have 10 cameras, they can collect a lot of data. There is no way this is a fair fight."

Farley certainly isn't alone in people or entities criticizing Canada's decision to allow the sale of Chinese vehicles in that country. The American Automotive Policy Council and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association - which represents Ford and many of its peers - also opposes the move, which is true of certain lawmakers, some of whom are calling for a total ban of those same vehicles from the U.S. In the meantime, Chinese automakers aren't wasting any time moving into the Canadian market, as BYD already plans to open 20 stores there by 2027.

I think Canada's move makes sense under existing trade practices. Canada currently has very little auto industry to protect and the current US policies discourage US automakers from building vehicles in Canada.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

I'm trying to figure out who is going to benefit and who is going to lose by protecting Ford or GM.

Agreed. There is currently to reason for Canada to protect auto companies that aren't investing in production in Canada.

 

[Mal106]

U.S. regulations.

True but a minor side of the story. More China's regulations. The central government can do anything necessary. They control the monitary system, control wages, allow anything necessary in terms of working conditions or pollution. They subsidize carefully for maximum production at minimum cost. They have even encouraged capitalism where it serves their purpose.

Canada and the US could compete easily but, for example, the UAW would be gone and their replacements would work 12 hour shifts 6 days a week at far lower wages.

If we reduce our standard of living to that of China, we could compete. After all, just shipping alone would give North America a large advantage in pricing.

 

[Phil D]

I thought this place was non-supportive of political garbage.

You just made it political. Prior to that, it was just news.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I suggest that Canadian buyers pay attention to the quality of the product coming ashore, don't forget the scams of tofu-dreg construction and manufacturing that hales from China.

As far as investments and landside production occurring in Canada, don't forget about the potential issues with national security and bait & switch "Belt and Road" initiatives.

 

[electricpig]

Not saying they are not better-what I am saying is that they are still behind the competition i.e. the Japanese. So while it may be that the new watermark for the Big Three is 100K, the Japanese are pushing much higher than that. Just look at the listing of 10 ten vehicles that go 200K plus. The goal post is always moving, and if B3 just continue to keep pace, they are not really improving.

Look at even Tesla. So it can be done. It's a matter of taking on the challenge vs. the marketing mumbo jumbo about blithering about Chinese EV's or how Canada sold their soul....he as the guy in charge fumbled the ball. Full stop.

My only point is that they are vastly improved from the past. Nothing more. Relative to anything else, no claim at all..

American cars were truly uncrushed garbage. Gas gauges that didn't work, Windows that wouldn't go down, radios that you couldn't charge the station on if they worked at all, rust rust and more rust, etc etc.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

True but a minor side of the story. More China's regulations. The central government can do anything necessary. They control the monitary system, control wages, allow anything necessary in terms of working conditions or pollution. They subsidize carefully for maximum production at minimum cost. They have even encouraged capitalism where it serves their purpose.

Canada and the US could compete easily but, for example, the UAW would be gone and their replacements would work 12 hour shifts 6 days a week at far lower wages.

If we reduce our standard of living to that of China, we could compete. After all, just shipping alone would give North America a large advantage in pricing.

Ok, but your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are hypotheticals that won't happen, so, U.S. regulations is why.

 

[ctuan13]

As I have family with direct insight into China's manufacturing, I have SERIOUS concerns about Chinese EVs, but not for political reasons, but for safety reasons. Those who have no concept or understanding for Chinese culture, can't fully grasp the difference in attitude given to the concept of safety and quality control. Especially when a lot of these companies are mostly government funded, the prevalence of rubber stamping is too high for me to be comfortable with Chinese EVs.

That being said, Farley is still a joke who has taken Ford in the wrong direction.

 

[Temix]

Anyone on this board ever heard of Li auto? not likely but check out what they are already doing! it is mindblowing!!!

I recently returned from China, where I spent almost a month driving a Li L9.

Honestly, there is nothing on the market here right now that even comes close. The vehicle places you in a highly integrated digital cockpit with seamless interaction between the car, your phone, and the surrounding environment. In my opinion, China is at least 10–15 years ahead in terms of software, driver-assistance technology, and EV infrastructure.

Having seen it firsthand, I believe the only reason North American manufacturers still survive is because Chinese automakers are effectively shut out of this market.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

I recently returned from China, where I spent almost a month driving a Li L9.

Honestly, there is nothing on the market here right now that even comes close. The vehicle places you in a highly integrated digital cockpit with seamless interaction between the car, your phone, and the surrounding environment. In my opinion, China is at least 10–15 years ahead in terms of software, driver-assistance technology, and EV infrastructure.

Having seen it firsthand, I believe the only reason North American manufacturers still survive is because Chinese automakers are effectively shut out of this market.

Here in America there aren't enough people, (consumers), interested in tech. Too many leftovers from the petrolhead hot-rodding era. They are holding us back. IMHOP.

 

[saturnschildren]

As far as investments and landside production occurring in Canada, don't forget about the potential issues with national security and bait & switch "Belt and Road" initiatives.

Those same national security issues exist with American automobiles sending data back home to American servers. Why should Canadians trust an American automaker with that data any more than a Chinese automaker? It's not like American legal protections of Canadian data are any better than the Chinese.

American automobile companies have received billions in incentives to manufacture in Canada only to pull out, shift production back to America, tariff vehicles and parts manufactured here, etc. We've seen the same bait and switch from the big three for decades. They get subsidies, they don't live up to their agreements, they want more incentives, lather rinse repeat.

In 2025 America calling the Chinese untrustworthy is just the pot calling the kettle black.

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