'I Make Trucks for Real People': Ford CEO Slams Tesla's Cybertruck In an interview with CNBC, Jim Farley said his company wasn't threatened by Tesla's entry into the pickup market.

By Jonathan Small

Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Ford CEO Jim Farley has a message for Elon Musk's Tesla: Your fancy new Cybertruck doesn't keep me up at night.

Appearing on CNBC's Mad Money from the Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, Farley told Jim Kramer that Musk's upcoming Cybertruck wouldn't steal customers from the company's F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck.

"If he wants to design a Cybertruck for Silicon Valley people, fine," Farley said. "It's like a cool high-end product parked in front of a hotel. But I don't make trucks like that. I make trucks for real people who do real work."

The release of the Cybertruck — Tesla's first electric truck — has been fraught with delays since Musk first announced it in 2019. But in an earnings call last April, Musk assured investors that the EV would be ready by the end of the year.

Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Telsa is eager to get into the EV truck market. Pickup trucks were America's top-selling vehicles in 2022, with Ford's F-Series leading the way. However, Tesla dominates the EV market.

It's still unclear how similar the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning will be. According to Business Insider, the Cybertruck is estimated to sell for around $50,000, while the F-150 Lightning has a $60,000 sticker price. Some have compared the Cybertruck to GMC's Hummer more than a Ford pickup truck.

Related: 3 Old School Automakers Making Big EV Strides

Ford to use Tesla charging stations

Despite Farley's tough words about Tesla, the two companies recently agreed to a partnership on charging stations. Ford drivers will be able to use over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada sometime in 2024.

Asked if that was a conflict of interest, Farley responded, "I have no problem being opportunistic when it comes to advantaging my customers."

He added that Musk was amicable during the negotiations. "More because of Henry Ford than Jim Farley."

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor in Chief of Green Entrepreneur

Jonathan Small is editor-in-chief of Green Entrepreneur, a vertical from Entrepreneur Media focused on the intersection of sustainability and business. He is also an award-winning journalist, producer, and podcast host of the upcoming True Crime series, Dirty Money, and Write About Now podcasts. Jonathan is the founder of Strike Fire Productions, a premium podcast production company. He had held editing positions at Glamour, Stuff, Fitness, and Twist Magazines. His stories have appeared in The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, and Good Housekeeping. Previously, Jonathan served as VP of Content for the GSN (the Game Show Network), where he produced original digital video series.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Growing a Business

More Than 90% of Startups Don't Make It. This CEO Reveals What It Takes to Not Only Survive — But Thrive.

Learn what it takes to grow a company while also scaling as a leader.

Business Plans

She Wrote An 'Escape Plan' to Quit Her Job and Move to an Island. Now She's There Generating Nearly $300,000 A Year

"My detailed, step-by-step plan on how I would quit my job and move to a Caribbean island."

Business News

Apple Moves to Sever Ties With Goldman Sachs — Here's What That Means for Apple Card and Savings Holders

The end may be near for one of the most prominent alliances between a technology firm and a banking institution.

Business News

Mark Cuban Is Reportedly Selling the Dallas Mavericks to Another Billionaire

Cuban purchased a majority stake in the NBA team in 2000 for $285 million.

Starting a Business

How Business Community Is Making CEO Life Less Ghastly

People are starting to notice that if you want to get the best out of entrepreneurs, you have to support them. But how?

Marketing

5 Scrappy Ways to Create Quick Marketing Wins

Marketers are under pressure to create both short-term and long-term successes. Here's how you can create quick wins easily alongside your bigger strategy.