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Ford CEO doesn’t want to give up this Chinese EV he’s been driving for months

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by G8tas, Nov 16, 2024.

  1. G8tas

    G8tas GC Hall of Fame

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    Ford CEO Jim Farley has been driving a Chinese EV over the past six months, calling it “fantastic.” After flying the Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) from Shanghai to Chicago, Farley doesn’t want to give it up.

    It’s no secret that China is dominating the EV industry, aside from Tesla. Farley recently sounded the alarm, calling Chinese EV makers an “existential threat” to the industry.

    Ford’s CEO was shocked after visiting China earlier this year. Farley warned rivals that if they fail to keep up with the Chinese, “then 20% to 30% of your revenue is at risk.”


    Ford CEO doesn't want to give up this Chinese EV he's been driving for months

    I've been following the Chinese EV market for a while now and our automakers are finally seeing what the rest of the world has been seeing. China is dominating the EV market worldwide. BYD is the largest automaker in the world and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. They're technology is superior and makes Tesla look like a joke. We have around a half a million charging stations nationwide and they are at 10 million plus.

    They are able to build reliable cars with more technology at a lower price point. How reliable? Enough that some countries now use them as taxis.

    They have access to the raw materials that we have to import from them. The only one that's losing is the American consumer
     
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  2. G8tas

    G8tas GC Hall of Fame

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    Floating safety feature
     
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  3. GolphinGator

    GolphinGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Not surprised he likes it better than a Ford. Ford has not figured out how to build a good gas car or truck yet. I think they did finally get some that don't flip over all the time like the Explorer did years ago.
     
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  4. g8orbill

    g8orbill Old Gator Moderator Premium Member VIP Member

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    I have owned 5 F150's and they all have been great trucks. I recently gave one of my kids my 2010 F150 with over 250K miles on it and it is still running great
     
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  5. OklahomaGator

    OklahomaGator Jedi Administrator Moderator VIP Member

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    I used to drive a F-150 for work, great truck. Traded it off with over 150,000 miles. Now I drive a Tesla S, love it. It makes driving fun again.
     
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  6. tilly

    tilly Superhero Mod. Fast witted. Bulletproof posts. Moderator VIP Member

    Cars? Agree.
    Trucks? Disagree. The number of early 90's F150's and Broncos still on the road is a testament of that.

    I had a 1993 F-150 years back. Practically bullet proof. My mid life crises vehicle wont be a convertible. It will be a 2nd or 3rd gen Bronco.

    KBB has the current F-150 listed as its most reliable full size on the market.
     
  7. g8orbill

    g8orbill Old Gator Moderator Premium Member VIP Member

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    I actually went with a friend to the tesla dealership in the town where I live. I did not find it comfortable, nor did I like how close it sits to the ground, but then I am not the tiniest of men. I do not care if others buy one as long as I am not forced to buy one.
     
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  8. OklahomaGator

    OklahomaGator Jedi Administrator Moderator VIP Member

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    Did you try the truck? I do agree it is ugly, but it grows on you.
     
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  9. g8orbill

    g8orbill Old Gator Moderator Premium Member VIP Member

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    no- they did not have any at that time- and yes it is butt ugly. My 2019 truck is paid off and I am thinking it will be the last vehicle I own. I average about 15-18K miles a year and keep it in pristine condition.
     
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  10. GolphinGator

    GolphinGator GC Hall of Fame

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    The last Ford truck I bought was a new 1990 F150 traded it on a 1989 Chev ext cab a couple of years later. Had Chevy's until I bought a 2006 Toyota Tundra and have had Ram trucks since 2011. The one I have now is a 2018 Ram quad cab that just hit 100k miles. With the cost of replacing it I may just keep on driving it. Was just poking at Ford people I don't have a issue with them although I have not had one in years. My son bought a 1995 Ford f150 recently that is in good shape and he is making it into a pretty nice old truck. Just something to take to the golf course and mess with fixing up mainly.
     
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  11. GolphinGator

    GolphinGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Also have a son in Brandon that bought a Tesla for them to drive around town taking the kids to school and shopping. Works fine for them in town. Not so much for road trips having to charge it. I live 20 miles from town so electric is not for me. Most of my driving is highway so even the hybrid did not save enough to pay for itself.
     
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  12. gtr2x

    gtr2x GC Hall of Fame

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    I wouldn't buy a Ford, but son has a Ford hybrid and he loves it. Hybrids seem like the best of both worlds to me, just don't see any with styling I like.
     
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  13. OklahomaGator

    OklahomaGator Jedi Administrator Moderator VIP Member

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    I have driven to Fort Worth to visit my new granddaughter. It is a 5 1/2 hour drive. I charge up to 100% the night before and make it 4 hours down the road before I stop to charge. I also get something to eat so while I eat, it charges enough to get to my destination, which is usually around 50%. I usually go charge back up the next day to get ready for the drive home.
     
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  14. GolphinGator

    GolphinGator GC Hall of Fame

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    The son that lives in Brandon drove his up pne weekend when there was a home game. Went to Celebration Point for brunch that Sunday at Spurriers and he charged it there on a charger but it was so slow it hardly charged at all. The ones at Target were either being used with people waiting or broken. He was able to make it to Brooksville and sit there for a hour to get enough charge to make it home. Way more pain than I would go through. It works great local for them as they just charge it while it is parked at home. I looked at no plug in hybrids before we bought the wife's car a few months ago but with our driving mostly highway the savings were not enough for me.
     
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  15. HeyItsMe

    HeyItsMe GC Hall of Fame

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    Xiaomi makes fantastic smartphones so not surprised they’re dipping their toes into other markets.
     
  16. homer

    homer GC Hall of Fame

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    If you have your vehicle serviced regularly and drive nicely there’s a good chance it will last a long time. My 2012 Camry had 343K at 14 years. Fixed the AC compressor, radiator leak, two timing belt changes, and 2 tranny flushes. My 2012 Dodge Dakota had 62K at also 14 years. No issues at all. My current is a 2015 Nissan Rogue with 80K and no issues. All get driven easy and serviced regularly.
     
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  17. GatorJMDZ

    GatorJMDZ gatorjack VIP Member

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    I am not a fan of Tesla and their VERY spotty build quality, but I would put Tesla's battery technology, charging infrastructure and manufacturing techniques above anything the Chinese are putting out. Tesla's issues are not with their engineering prowess.
     
  18. GatorJMDZ

    GatorJMDZ gatorjack VIP Member

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    I just purchased a Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid to replace another of my daily drivers, an older Ford Escape Hybrid which replaced an even older Ford Escape Hybrid which replaced an even older still Ford Escape ICE. I have always had a smaller SUV since they were "invented" starting with a Jeep Cherokee YJ and then a Chevy S-10 Blazer in addition to having at least one sportier car. All 4 Fords have been exceptionally reliable. The hybrids in particular are over engineered and use a lot of Toyota hybrid technology.

    My plug-in hybrid goes 37 miles on a single charge, which is more than enough for my normal daily commute, and it cost me $1.35 in electricity to charge it. After the 37 miles on battery alone, I get 42 MPG. I am more than pleased with those numbers. I do have an additional expense with it....gas stabilizer.
     
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  19. G8tas

    G8tas GC Hall of Fame

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    Tesla's battery has been surpassed by several of its competitors. Tesla buys batteries from BYD, their main competitor because it is a better technology. Also, reliability was once an issue but it isn't anymore with certain brands. The government subsidies allowed them to quickly roll out new models and fail fast so that they could learn from their mistakes. Now people are able to use some models as taxis because of how reliable they are.

    I'm telling you we've all been blinded by red, white and blue glasses while China has over taken the worldwide EV market. Several Chinese manufacturers have setup offices in the US and are playing the long game because unfortunately we are only able to think in increments of 2 and 4 years while they are thinking 30 and more.
     
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  20. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

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    It’s ok, if there’s any superior tech out there we will be “protected” from it.
     
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