Relations between the US and China are often tense, but that doesn’t seem to apply to their carmakers. According to a report by Reuters, Ford and Geely are in talks for a potential partnership, aiming to leverage each other’s strengths, particularly in terms of advanced safety technologies, and perhaps more importantly, production facilities.
Geely is reportedly looking to make use of Ford’s underutilised factory space in Europe to produce cars for the region. This would allow the Chinese automaker to sell vehicles at lower prices by bypassing Europe’s import tariffs, provided they meet minimum requirements for European-sourced content.
The talks have reportedly been ongoing “for months”, with representatives from both companies visiting each other’s countries to intensify discussions.
As for Ford’s piece of the pie, sources told Reuters that the company is eyeing Geely’s advanced vehicle technologies, particularly in autonomous driving. The partnership could also see Ford taking advantage of Geely’s electric vehicle (EV) technologies, particularly on the higher-end of the EV market.
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When asked about these discussions, a Ford spokesperson said: “We have discussions with lots of companies all the time on a variety of topics. Sometimes they materialise, sometimes they don’t.” Geely, however, declined to comment.
Ford has also recently signed a strategic partnership with Renault to expand its EV lineup in Europe. Under the agreement, two new Ford models are planned for 2028, both set to be built on Renault’s Ampere (AmpR) platform for EVs.
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Given Renault’s success with compact and affordable hatchbacks using the AmpR platform, the partnership hints at a possible return of smaller Ford models — potentially the Fiesta, and possible even the recently discontinued Focus — as electric vehicles.
Geely, meanwhile, has carved out a strong reputation in the higher-end EV space, as seen through brands such as Volvo and Lotus, as well as its own range of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and sub-brands like Zeekr and Lynk & Co.
While still speculative, it is worth noting that Geely has been eyeing an expansion into the US market with higher-end EV brands like Zeekr and Lynk & Co. The group already has a presence in the US through Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, though these brands operate independently, unlike Zeekr and Lynk & Co.
At CES 2026, Geely brought out a fleet of its vehicles for test-drive sessions. The lineup included the Zeekr X, 7X, and 9X, alongside the Lynk & Co 900 and the Geely EX5, the sibling of the Proton eMAS 7 (stylised as e.MAS 7).
Should a partnership between Ford and Geely materialise, it could potentially open the door for Geely to manufacture vehicles in the US using Ford’s production footprint alongside Volvo’s facilities. However, such a move would still prove challenging, as the vehicles would likely require significant modifications to comply with US safety and regulatory standards.
READ MORE: Geely eyes expansion in the United States with Zeekr and Lynk & Co
