LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ford Motor Company’s top executive on Wednesday welcomed revisions to auto import rules but said more work is needed to craft trade policies that spur growth in the U.S. auto industry.
Ford CEO Jim Farley touted his company’s domestic production, saying it outpaces competitors, as he attended the rollout of the company’s 2025 Expedition SUV at its massive truck plant in Kentucky.
Farley focused on trade policies during his remarks to plant workers, a day after President Donald Trump signed executive orders to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts.
“The changes this week on tariff plans will help ease the impact of tariffs for automakers, suppliers and consumers,” Farley said. “But this is what we really care about. We need to continue to work closely with the administration on a comprehensive set of policies to support our shared vision of that healthy and growing auto industry. And we are not there yet.”
Farley pointed to Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, which employs nearly 9,000 workers, as “a shining example of American manufacturing.” Ford has another auto production plant across town in Louisville. The venerable automaker opened the truck plant for a media tour Wednesday, showing off its synchronized assembly lines.
Farley took aim at Ford’s competitors in his speech, saying if the