Jim Farley and Elon Musk Squash EV Beef
Corporate feuds can be some of the nastiest because of how heavily publicized they are. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have been poking fun at each other and trading jabs for months. Farley has joked about Ford electric vehicles like the F-150 Lightning being more reliable than Tesla models. Elon Musk considers Tesla’s EVs to be superior to competitors. The CEOs seem to have come to an agreement to form a partnership that will benefit the electric vehicle space as a whole.
Ford and Tesla partner to improve the EV charging experience for thousands of drivers
Tesla is the automaker to beat in the EV realm. As a result, many CEOs of major automakers have used Tesla as a benchmark and claim to produce better electric vehicles than the company. The controversial EV and clean energy company remains dominant, but there are plenty of competitors emerging (which is great for consumers).
Competition isn’t exactly stiff between Tesla and other automakers, since Tesla is responsible for so much of the total EV market share. That being said, more rivals means more options for drivers.
Tesla Inc. doesn’t just produce some of the best electric vehicles in the world. It also develops clean energy technology and EV charging infrastructure. The Tesla Supercharger Network is easily one of the largest charging networks in the world. It’s also one of the most efficient networks in the world, as the charging infrastructure industry is experiencing growing pains.
The fact is, few companies do EV charging as well as Tesla. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em (or partner with ’em). According to CNN Business, in 2024, Ford EV drivers can use the Tesla Supercharger Network. The network is comprised of 12,000 stations. This move will make charging more accessible for Ford electric vehicle owners. It could also make charging quicker and easier.
Why would Ford partner with Tesla for EV charging?
Make no mistake, Ford and Tesla are still rivals. They will still compete in segments, and Ford still has every intention of becoming one of the largest electric vehicle producers in the country. The Ford/Tesla charging partnership is mutually beneficial.
On Ford’s end, its consumers get access to a superior charging network. This network can potentially make Ford EV ownership more appealing. On Tesla’s end, the company gets to provide more charging services to electric vehicle owners. It’s a win-win for both companies and a positive move for drivers.
Charging partnerships aren’t novel to the industry. This particular partnership is newsworthy because there has been plenty of playful banter and friendly competition between the company’s CEOs. It’s great to see these industry titans put their differences aside for the benefit of consumers.
Ford vs. Tesla: Which company makes the better EVs?
Ford’s first-ever fully-electric vehicle, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, is an appealing small electric SUV. That being said, it isn’t touching the Tesla Model Y in sales. Frankly, the Model Y is the better model for the money following price cuts. It also happens to be the most popular electric vehicle in the world.
Tesla makes better EVs than Ford at the moment. The EV space is still in its infancy, so the American automaker can potentially catch up to Tesla in the years to come.
