Ford in Talks With China's Geely for Potential Partnership

The partnership could help cut costs for Ford and pave the way for more Geely-built vehicles in Europe.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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According to a Reuters report, Ford is in discussions with China's Geely over a potential partnership. The talks reportedly focus on decreasing manufacturing and technology costs, and could involve Ford allowing Geely to use its European factory spaces, as well as potential sharing of vehicle technology like automated driving features.

Why it matters

A partnership with Geely could be significant for Ford, potentially helping to offset rising costs and allowing the company to leverage Geely's technological expertise, especially in areas like autonomous driving. It could also open the door for more Geely-built vehicles to be sold in the European market through Ford's existing distribution channels.

The details

The talks between Ford and Geely have been ongoing for months and have covered topics like using Ford's factory spaces in Europe, particularly in Valencia, Spain, where Geely could potentially produce vehicles for the European market. The two companies have also discussed a framework for sharing vehicle technology, which could include Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving assistance system. Ford CEO Jim Farley has previously praised Geely's technological capabilities, calling Chinese EVs 'the most humbling thing I have ever seen'.

  • Ford representatives traveled to China this week to hold further talks following earlier meetings in Michigan between senior Geely executives and Ford leaders.
  • The discussions have been ongoing for several months, but it's unclear if any deal will ultimately materialize.

The players

Ford

An American multinational automaker that is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.

Geely

A Chinese multinational automotive company that is one of the largest private automakers in China.

Jim Farley

The CEO of Ford, who has praised Geely's technological capabilities in the past.

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What they’re saying

“Chinese EVs and the tech they employ are 'the most humbling thing I have ever seen.'”

— Jim Farley, CEO of Ford (Aspen Ideas Festival)

“I don't think so. I think as long as it has the right guardrails and we think about it the right way, no, I've found openness throughout the government to do this, because I think they know it's required.”

— Jim Farley, CEO of Ford (Aspen Ideas Festival)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This potential partnership between Ford and Geely highlights the increasing need for automakers to leverage technological partnerships and shared resources to offset rising costs and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving automotive industry.