In Ford, like the rest of the automobile industry, they are stunned before the brutal ascent that Chinese manufacturers have experienced since their landing in the West just a few years ago. Therefore, the entire sector examines with magnifying glass its strategies, its products and its technology, with byd as the main reference for its enormous importance in the electric car market.
And is that the Chinese company directed by Wang Chuanfu Not only is the number in your native country, it is also since last year the manufacturer that produces more electric cars and sells on a global scale. This has raised Byd to a reference position within the automotive industry, which has captured the attention of the now competitors in Europe, Japan and the United States.
The Ford CEO is impressed with the performance of Chinese brands
On the other side of the Atlantic, Ford is one of the brands that has been fixed in the almost sudden success of China byd, which has led the company led by Jim Farleyto disassemble and analyze the cars of the Asian firm in search of their secrets, to understand how they work and how they manage to sell them at very competitive prices without giving up quality.
“We have disassembled and analyzed Byd’s Chinese cars to understand how they do”Ford CEO has pointed out. And, obviously, what Farley and his team have found has not been to his liking, although they have served to reflect and better understand how their own industry should be if they want to be competitive in the race for the electrification of the automotive sector.
For the Ford manager, what has surprised him most is the affordability of the LFP batteries (lithium and iron phosphate) of Byd. “They are not paying margins, because they develop their own batteries”explains Farley. “Byd electrical propulsion systems are not as efficient as it should”which represents an improvement opportunity for the Chinese company.
Cheaper cars to produce and with top -level innovations
In competitive terms, the great asset of the Chinese automobile industry is its mass production capacity at low costwhich allows them to offer vehicles at prices well below the market average.
“Manufacturing must be as efficient as possible. We need a smaller footprint, with less labor, and reduce complexity,” says the head of the American firm.
All this is not new for Ford, who is already working to change some manufacturing processes in their car production plants. You also have to take into account the ACQUISITION OF AMPa company from which Ford has obtained improvements in motor efficiency and exchange boxes.
“What really worries me is how we are going to execute these large -scale technologies,” said the maximum exponent of the Ford Board of Directors. “It is not so much if our technology will be competitive, but if we will be able to produce on a large scale with these new suppliers.”
Finally, Farley has made it clear that what has surprised him most from his Chinese competitors is the speed with which they execute innovations. “What really takes away my dream is the speed at which the Chinese are innovating. Everyone talks about how good or cheap they are, but what really highlights is how fast they are”.
Byd advances in the European market
Although in Europe Byd still has a lower percentage of sales of pure electric cars, the Asian firm is experiencing significant growth that allows it to climb new positions in brand rankings with higher volumes of annual registration.
In 2023, for example, Byd ended the year with just 0.9% of the market share. Last year it already stood in 13th position with a 2.3% market share, being the first Chinese manufacturer in terms of sales without MG, which ended in 10th place with a quota of 3.6%.
In the first quarter of this 2025, Byd is already in 12th position of this same ranking, which, although it is not such an important advance with respect to the previous year, its market share has increased to 3.3%being now, the Chinese brand that sells more electric cars in Europe after unseating MG (16th on the list).
Byd, in addition, is in front of several brands already consolidated in Europe, such as Ford, Toyota, Citroën or Cupra, among others.
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Tags: Industry, Chinese cars
