Back in late February, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Chinese vehicles pose “risks to our national security,” adding that “connected vehicles from China could collect sensitive data about our citizens and our infrastructure and send this data back to the People’s Republic of China. These vehicles could be remotely accessed or disabled.” This is one of a few reasons why Biden proceeded to substantially increase tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles, but as it turns out, he isn’t the only one that sees those models as a threat to national security.
“Forget about Waiwei and Tiktok. Think about a Chinese vehicle, and what their government could learn about our country. Let alone partial electrification – you could crash the car into anything you want, remotely,” Farley said during a recent interview with NBC News, pointing out some potential threats that Chinese vehicles could theoretically pose to America.
This isn’t the first time Farley or any Ford executive has singled out Chinese vehicles as threats, as Marin Gjaja, COO of Ford Model e, previously stated that the “size of the market in China is so big that those players are going to be in a position to go potentially dominate the world, unless we as Ford and other OEMs can respond.”
As for Farley, the CEO previously made it clear that he believes cheap Chinese EVs – specifically, the BYD Seagull, which can be purchased in China for around $10,000 new – pose a bigger threat to the company’s business than electric vehicle mandates. Farley was also inspired to pivot to cheaper, smaller EVs after visiting China a few years ago, which prompted him to create a skunkworks team led by a former Tesla exec that is currently working on a low-cost EV platform set to underpin multiple future models.
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Comments
Most people in the US don’t even want EVs. Just make vehicles people here WANT and can AFFORD. Reduce some of these absurd mandates to reduce the cost of production here in the US.
The new ruling to the Chevron doctrine can be a HUGE help here now.
Also, you want a vehicle that can’t be remotely hacked and info sent to a another country? Stop with adding in so many electronics and nanny BS, like many of us on this site have asked you to do for years.
We keep being told the future is that we’re going to just ride in self driving EVs with cameras and sensors everywhere and constant internet connection. Why? Just give us fun vehicles to drive that we can afford and are actually EXCITED to hand over our money for.
Yes! Farley’s concerns about Chinese vehicles are really concerns about all new vehicles.
Does that include the new Lincoln Natalus made in China, Mr Farley?
Thats what I came to say…. move that to the US or at least north America
Has anyone seen a map of all the land the US has allowed China to buy? Spare me the theatrics on this particular drama, while in the meantime allowing the invasion.
He assumes that they will not break the second they get off the boat
They’re better quality than many Ford vehicles
Agreed, there Nautilus production should never have been moved to China.
Politics aside, common sense, make it hear, support the USA.
Put your money where your mouth is.
Haha! Wait! What? Chinese cars are a security risk for the nation? So Biden raised tariffs? What the crap man? Your tax dollars at work. This government no longer has a legal leg to stand on. It’s an illegitimate government. All these rules. Regulations and most laws are null and void.
If Ford hadn’t stopped building the focus and fiesta then people wouldn’t be looking to China for affordable new vehicles
My wife loves her 2024 Ford Edge ST, but if some of the special feature electronics were not there, it would have been much cheaper. Not in favor of the special anti-crash system and others. Would have been happy with similar features as the 2018 Edge Titanium that she had before. We bought the 2024 mainly because of the Edge going away, and we love it.
Chinese nationals are walking right across the border, and I’m supposed to worry about theoretical cars that already aren’t allowed to be sold here, and how maybe they’ll collect data?