Ford Motor CEO, Jim Farley, and Tesla and Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, are set to host a live audio discussion via Twitter Spaces on accelerating EV adoption. This online discussion between rivals comes as Ford attempts to catch up to or surpass Tesla’s sales in the electric vehicle (EV) segment.
Ford’s Attempts to Catch up with Tesla
Ford, the second-largest fully electric vehicle seller in the US last year, is trying to ramp up production of its EVs to compete with Tesla, which currently dominates the sector. However, Ford has already beaten Tesla to the pickup segment by beginning production of its F-150 Lightning, an electric version of its popular trucks, in April 2022. The company also benchmarked the Tesla Model Y for its Mustang Mach-E crossover and followed Tesla in price cuts of the electric crossovers.
Despite being competitors, both Farley and Musk have expressed admiration for each other’s companies. Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, has repeatedly praised Ford as a historic American company that avoided bankruptcy during the Great Recession. While other automakers paused their ad spending on Twitter, Ford stayed active on the platform, with Farley personally engaging his fans and followers.
The Rivalry Between Ford and Tesla
The rivalry between Ford and Tesla is unique, as both companies have praised each other for their EV leadership. Farley has praised Tesla for its successes in the EV market, even as Ford attempts to emulate them. The Twitter Spaces event will be the latest interaction between the two executives, who have a history of expressing admiration for each other despite their companies competing directly.
The timing of the discussion is unexpected as it follows massive technical glitches on Twitter Spaces that interfered with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announcing his presidential campaign. However, it won’t be the first time that a Tesla competitor has reached out to Musk. In 2021, then-Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess invited Musk to call in to an internal conference with executives of the German automaker to talk innovation.
The live audio discussion between Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk on accelerating EV adoption is a unique opportunity for both companies to engage with each other and the public. While Ford attempts to catch up with Tesla’s sales in the EV segment, the two executives have a history of expressing admiration for each other’s companies. The Twitter Spaces event will be an exciting and informative discussion for EV enthusiasts and investors alike.
Leave a Reply