Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley recently posted an opinion piece on social media, sharing a fresh and inspiring perspective on his new love for electric vehicles. As a self-described “lifelong petrolhead,” Farley definitely found his place driving one of the world’s most prominent automakers. Given his foresight about the future of electrification, it’s easy to see why he’s the CEO, and even better, he has the data to back up his statements.
Jim Farley said he always wanted to be a “car guy.”
With time spent at Toyota and Lexus before joining Ford in 2007, Farley has definitely rooted himself in the world of cars. During his tenure at Ford Motor Company, he rose through the ranks as a senior member of the executive team before being named CEO of the company in 2020.
Long before Farley took over, the auto industry had begun to shift toward electric vehicles that are more powerful, quieter and, most importantly, cleaner in emissions. In a recent post, Farley said, “The sound of a V-8 feels like the soundtrack to my life,” and that he still spends many weekends “cramming” in his 1973 Ford Bronco.
The Ford boss clearly has a passion for combustion vehicles, which he spent most of his career developing, but Farley has admitted a newfound love for electric vehicles and explains why. Additionally, he does a great job of addressing common misconceptions about EVs, as well as his predictions for the future of the industry.
Ford CEO: EVs will be the next big change in mobility
We recommend that you read in its entirety the opinion piece recently posted on LinkedIn by Ford CEO Jim Farley. It’s a five-minute read that’s well-thought-out and relatable, and Farley comes across as informed, honest and approachable, even as the head of a major automaker.
The piece is also full of strong arguments that make pro-EV advocates like us throw up our hands and say, “Preach!” This first part sounds partly like an ad for the F-150 Lightning, but Farley shares some insight into how he fell in love with the EV:
As a lifelong petrolhead, I was as surprised as anyone to fall in love with electric vehicles.
It wasn’t government policies or political convictions that ignited this late-career romance with electric vehicles. That’s because I drive one – my Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum. It is surprisingly quiet and peaceful. The effortless acceleration leaves you with a goofy grin once the feeling returns to your face. Every morning, mine is topped up with 300 miles of range. No gas stations, ever…
… It’s that simple. For me and millions of Americans, electric vehicles are taking the hassle out of everyday life and reminding us why we love to drive. If you want to have a blast behind the wheel, take a Mustang Mach-E Rally out on a dirt road.
The Ford CEO then addresses some misconceptions about EVs and compares the nascent technology to other paradigm shifts in our industrial world, like cell phones and computers, and even recalls a time when the Internet was just a fad. For Farley:
It takes time for innovations to gain traction. But when they do, the change is profound and lasting.
I believe the next big shift for vehicles will be towards software-defined and electric vehicles.
After that, Farley addresses a key issue (and misconception) among consumers considering going electric: how much range they need. According to the post, Ford research shows that approximately 50% of Americans make trips of more than 150 miles four days or less per year.
Farley also stated that 80% of EV owners charge at home and acknowledges that public charging networks in North America are continuing to grow. The Ford CEO mentions a road trip across the US he took in an F-150 Lightning last year, but leaves out the part about how shocked he was that reliable chargers were so hard to find. Still, Farley seems optimistic about those networks:
Access and charging speeds will continue to improve, just as mobile networks went from being static and falling steadily to being clean and reliable.
Farley also indicated that close to 70% of global EV owners say they will stick to electric vehicles only in the future. With the United States recently imposing higher tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and Europe and possibly Canada following suit, Ford’s CEO took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of supporting American automakers and believes that the 121 -year-old auto knows what he’s doing. According to Farley’s post:
Here’s the other thing. We are in a global race to compete in a future where electric propulsion will undoubtedly be a giant force in transportation. America cannot cede innovation leadership to China, Europe, or any other region. Ford has survived and thrived for 121 years because we’ve never been afraid to seize the moment to innovate and face the future. Now, we’re investing billions in factories, technology centers and our workforce to create the cars, SUVs and trucks of tomorrow.
It is true that we are losing money on electric vehicles in the early stages of this transition, mainly due to the upfront investment costs. But even that is changing. After all, what major technological leap forward wasn’t challenging and costly in its early stages?
The tipping point we’re working towards won’t come from regulators pushing us or politicians trying to stop us. It will come from consumers. Not when an arbitrary market share is achieved, but when electric vehicles are simply better for more customers – better to drive, cheaper to own and easier to integrate into everyday life . This is the reality for millions already.
Well said, Jim; welcome to the pack, from one EV lover to another.
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