Ford CEO on his relationship with Elon Musk

‘I think there’s a mutual respect" says Ford (F) CEO Jim Farley when asked about his relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Speaking with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi at the rejuvenated Michigan Central Station, he discussed the current vibe between the two business rivals. ‘Does he text you back?’, asked Sozzi. The answer was yes. He added that Ford ‘knows what a partnerships should be and what’s realistic’. Then big picture? ‘We compete’, says Farley.

For full episodes of Opening Bid, watch on our website or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

影片文字紀錄

I think when Elon started um and started scaling model Y and model three, he very much followed the Henry Ford model with the model T bringing, you know, increasing his, his uh utilization of his plant and bringing the cost down for customers as he went mainstream with evs.

Um I think it's been largely positive relationship.

You know, we in 100 and 20 years, we've been through a lot as a company like we know when what a partnership should be and what's realistic to expect out of a partner.

You know, we compete, I mean, Macky and Mata Y, they're in the market competing every day.

So we're realistic.

But um so far the partnership has gone well and we have a professional relationship and it's mutual respectful.

Does he text you right back?

Because if you texted me, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm dropping everything.

I, no, no, he is really uh in incredible person like he, he absolutely does.

He, he very much made this decision based on, you know, the adoption of evs in the country.

And of course, it's good for him, you know, his, his charging network is very valuable and, and a really wonderful asset for the company.

Um, but he's very responsive and I think it's because he knows we respect each other.