Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) CEO Jim Farley reportedly discussed with Trump administration’s senior officials regarding a potential roadmap for Chinese automakers to manufacture vehicles in the U.S. through joint ventures.

Farley Proposes JV Framework

Farley met officials during last month’s Detroit Auto Show, according to a Bloomberg report on Friday, citing sources. The proposed framework would allow Chinese firms to manufacture cars domestically via joint ventures where American companies maintain a controlling stake.

Ford Motor did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.

BYD Surpasses Ford in Global Sales

The talks follow a historic shift in the automotive landscape. For the first time, BYD Co. (OTC:BYDDY) (OTC:BYDDF) surpassed Ford in total global vehicle sales for 2025, according to Bloomberg. BYD reported approximately 4.6 million units sold, while Ford’s global wholesales declined nearly 2% to 4.4 million units.

Ford recently held talks with BYD to expand battery-supply partnerships and explored manufacturing collaborations in Europe with Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (OTC:GELYF).

Benzinga Edge Rankings

The Benzinga Edge scorecard indicates that Ford is currently navigating a significant fundamental transition with a favorable risk-reward profile.

The Value score of 87.86 suggests the automaker is trading at an attractive valuation relative to its industry peers, a narrative supported by a Quality rating of 75.64.

This quality score is underpinned by a robust balance sheet and consistent operational efficiency across its core segments. Despite shifting market dynamics and global competition, the stock retains Strong Momentum at 84.91.

F Price Action: Ford Motor shares were down 0.46% at $14.05 at the time of publication on Tuesday. The stock is approaching its 52-week high of $14.50, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image via Shutterstock