Rewind: CEO Jim Farley on Ford's EV gamble

Decoder with Nilay Patel · with Jim Farley · June 25, 2026 · 63 min

Summary

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, discusses the ambitious strategy and significant challenges Ford faces in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The episode delves into Ford's efforts to produce affordable EVs, compete with Chinese manufacturers amidst tariff policies, and integrate technology like Apple CarPlay, offering a look into the future of automotive manufacturing and market dynamics.

Key takeaways

• Ford is actively pursuing cost reduction strategies for EVs, aiming for a $30,000 EV to compete in the mass market.
• Tariffs and trade policies significantly impact Ford's global EV strategy, particularly in competition with Chinese manufacturers.
• Ford is balancing the integration of third-party technologies like Apple CarPlay with its own in-car systems.
• Innovation in manufacturing processes and battery technology is critical for achieving lower-priced EVs and ensuring supply chain resilience.
• The episode highlights the ongoing tension between legacy automakers and new market entrants, especially from China, in the rapidly evolving EV landscape.

Themes

Topics covered

Episode description

Hey everyone, Nilay here. You might remember I took a break from Decoder last year — we had a baby, so I took some leave. In my place, we had an excellent slate of guest hosts, and we’ve been working hard to bring you those episodes in full video since we launched our official Decoder YouTube channel. So today, we’re featuring a really great interview conducted by my very good friend Joanna Stern, now the founder and CEO of New Things, and Ford CEO Jim Farley. Joanna pulled some exclusive news out of Jim at the time, including some telling quotes on Trump’s tariff policy, on Ford competing with Chinese EVs, and the company's stance on Apple CarPlay. Read the full interview transcript on The Verge. Links: Ford CEO Jim Farley on China, tariffs, and the quest for a $30,000 EV | Decoder Joanna Stern is not a robot, but she lived with them | Decoder Ford's Jim Farley: 'I totally would’ve done it differently.’ | The Verge Ford pulls the plug on the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck | NPR Inside the lab where Ford is trying to crack the code on cheap EVs | The Verge Ford is fighting against physics to build affordable EVs | The Verge Ford reveals breakthrough process for lower priced EVs | The Verge Ford CEO Jim Farley on building the electric F-150 | Decoder (2021) Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Kabir Chopra. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Frequently asked about this episode

What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?

Ford is actively pursuing cost reduction strategies for EVs, aiming for a $30,000 EV to compete in the mass market.

What does this episode say about finance & fundraising?

Tariffs and trade policies significantly impact Ford's global EV strategy, particularly in competition with Chinese manufacturers.

What does this episode say about product & merchandising?

Ford is balancing the integration of third-party technologies like Apple CarPlay with its own in-car systems.

What does this episode say about ai & automation?

Innovation in manufacturing processes and battery technology is critical for achieving lower-priced EVs and ensuring supply chain resilience.

What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?

The episode highlights the ongoing tension between legacy automakers and new market entrants, especially from China, in the rapidly evolving EV landscape.

Listen

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