Jim Farley Demands Trade Penalties for Automakers Importing Vehicles

Farley contends the current trade environment unfairly burdens Ford, which assembled over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year. By contrast, industry leaders General Motors and Toyota rely significantly on imported inventory. Data shows that in 2025, Toyota imported 1.19 million vehicles—nearly half of its total U.S. sales—while GM imported 1.17 million, accounting for 41% of its domestic volume.

The Ford executive views these import-heavy strategies as a direct result of lower labor costs abroad, creating a competitive imbalance. While Ford imported only 17% of its 2.2 million sales last year, it exported 311,000 units to international markets. As trade talks progress, the automaker aims to shift the cost-benefit analysis for rivals like Hyundai, which currently maintains a heavy reliance on South Korean imports despite plans to scale up U.S. production by 2030.