Ford is secretly plotting a game-changing alliance with China's Geely to slash soaring tech and factory costs, sources reveal. This bold move thrusts the American icon into China's EV dominance arena.
Deal Sparks Fly
Talks heated up with Ford execs jetting to China this week after Michigan huddles last week. Geely eyes Ford's Valencia, Spain plant to dodge EU tariffs up to 37.6% on Chinese EVs since 2024 building regional rides there.
Tech sharing on autonomous driving tops the agenda, letting Geely tap Ford's space while Ford grabs Chinese smarts in connected cars. Months of whispers hint at advanced European manufacturing talks, though U.S. scope stays murky.
Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the CPCA, said,
However, as companies adapt to the new rules and product competitiveness continues to improve, the sales are expected to grow back gradually," he noted. "I project that between 2026 and 2028, China's EV exports to the EU will maintain an average annual growth rate of approximately 20 percent, serving as a vital engine for growth in the global EV market.
China Auto Boom Fuels Urgency
Geely crushed 2025 sales at 3.02 million vehicles, up 39% yearly, Geely met its NEV goal and set a record high, up 90% year over year. In 2025, the Geely Galaxy brand exceeded its "One Million Galaxy" target by delivering 1.24 million vehicles, a 150% increase. Automakers worldwide team up amid EV sales hitting 10.7 million globally in H1 2025 (up 27%).
Risks and Rewards Ahead
U.S. scrutiny looms over Chinese tech amid Biden-era bans, though Trump eyes jobs from local builds. Critically, this pact could turbo Ford's lag in autonomy versus Tesla, but tariffs and politics risk stalling it.
Expect deals by mid-2026, slashing costs via shared R&D, propelling Ford into China's premium EV wave as Europe localizes and global sales top 20 million.
Disclaimer
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About the Author
Warisha Rashid writes about the intersection of corporate strategy, venture capital, and macro for TECHi — why certain acquisitions close when the Fed pivots, why a Series C prices at a markdown, and how capital rotation reshapes competitive positioning. She reads PitchBook, CB Insights, and S&P Capital IQ filings alongside the earnings commentary most coverage ignores. Her work focuses on M&A rationale, startup unit economics, and the policy signals that move private markets before they show up in public ones.
