It’s been a bumpy road for the brand, but it is no understatement to say that Tesla has upended the automotive industry in numerous ways. Not only did this manufacturer prove that electric vehicles could be cool, but Tesla also transformed the EV from a weird science experiment into a viable transportation option for many drivers. This automaker also revolutionized vehicle charging, reinvented how vehicles are built, and even changed the way new cars are sold. Still, Tesla could learn a thing or two from legacy companies, and CEO Jim Farley appears ready to share some of Ford’s secrets with Tesla head honcho Elon Musk.
Farley Praises Ford Employees
Farley shared a post on the X social media network (Is it still called tweeting or is it X-ing now?), which is owned by Musk. The CEO commented on the value of American innovation, describing this as the lifeblood of the economy, one that goes far beyond the traditional vehicle assembly line.
To Farley’s point, designing, engineering, testing, and assembling modern vehicles, and then selling and servicing them, too, is a tremendous challenge. Ford’s been doing this for quite a while and undoubtedly has loads of institutional knowledge. The fact that much of this work is done in a very small corner of Michigan is remarkable, too.
What Did Farley Mean With This Post?
Now, it’s unclear exactly what Farley is after here, but his X post is a nice tip of the hat to Ford’s workforce – both hourly and salaried – though, this post could also have something to do with the Trump administration’s tariffs, that, if fully implemented, could devastate the automotive industry. This is a global business that is not only incredibly complex, but also interconnected in ways that span time zones and national borders.
Luckily for Ford, they assemble more vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker – some 1.8 million were built here last year – something that could insulate them from some tariff-related headaches. Similarly, Tesla is extremely vertically integrated, supposedly controlling around 80 percent of its supply chain. The EV manufacturer builds its own batteries, electric motors, power electronics, writes its own software, and more.
Is Ford’s Farley really willing to share product development secrets with Musk? Is he angling to cooperate with Tesla in the future? Could Farley merely be elevating his company’s workforce as an example of how to treat employees, a sore spot for Tesla? At this point, your guess is as good as ours. For what it’s worth, Musk did respond to Farley with an American flag emoji.
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