In a playful exchange on social media, Ford CEO Jim Farley found himself challenged by Tesla to test drive their highly anticipated Cybertruck. The invitation came after Farley publicly expressed his admiration for Xiaomi’s SU7 EV, a vehicle he’s been driving for the past six months.
Farley’s enthusiasm for the Xiaomi SUV isn’t just a passing fancy. He’s known for his hands-on approach to understanding the competition, believing that ‘specs can tell part of a story, but you’ve got to get behind the wheel to truly understand and beat the competition.’ His experience with the SU7, which he describes as ‘fantastic’ and ‘a consumer brand that is much stronger than car companies,’ has convinced him of Xiaomi’s burgeoning EV strength.
This public display of admiration for a rival’s product, however, caught the attention of Tesla. The electric vehicle giant took to social media, issuing a direct invitation to Farley to try out the Cybertruck. ‘Ok. Try me,’ Tesla’s official Cybertruck account tweeted, adding a playful question to the Ford CEO: ‘So can we put you down for a Cyberbeast or a Dual Motor?’
This exchange highlights the increasingly competitive landscape of the EV market. Both Ford and Tesla are vying for dominance in the sector, pushing innovation and challenging each other’s products. It remains to be seen whether Farley will take Tesla up on their offer, but one thing is clear: the battle for EV supremacy is heating up.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s SU7 has made a strong entrance into the market. Launched in late March, the company started delivering the vehicles in April, selling over 27,000 units in its first quarter as an EV seller. Xiaomi’s success is evident in its revenue from the EV business, which reached 6.2 billion yuan ($0.87 billion) in Q2, with a gross profit margin of 15.4%. The company is confident in reaching its target of delivering 100,000 units by November and aims to achieve 120,000 deliveries by the end of the year.
