Ford: Duffy criticism over deals with China 'wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines'

Ford has pushed back against allegations from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has criticized the automaker’s business relationships with China, calling the claims misleading. In a formal response, Ford rejected suggestions that its reliance on foreign technology poses a national security risk, framing the criticism as politically motivated rather than fact-based. The exchange highlights growing tensions over automotive industry partnerships with international markets amid broader debates on economic and strategic dependencies. The company’s rebuttal underscores its defense of its global operations as standard business practice.

Ford Motor Company on Tuesday accused Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy of spreading inaccurate information to drum up public scrutiny after Duffy criticized the automaker's business ties with China. In a letter to the auto company’s chief executive, Jim Farley, Duffy expressed “profound concern” with Ford’s “reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries.” “When a company intentionally...