Here's an interesting conversation happening in Detroit: Ford Motor Co. (F) CEO Jim Farley is pitching the Trump administration on a framework that would let Chinese automakers build cars on American soil, provided they do it through joint ventures where U.S. companies keep the controlling stake.

The Proposal Takes Shape

According to a Bloomberg report, Farley met with senior Trump administration officials during last month's Detroit Auto Show to discuss this potential roadmap. The concept is straightforward: Chinese automotive companies could manufacture vehicles domestically, but only through partnerships where American firms hold majority control.

It's a creative middle ground in an increasingly complicated relationship between the world's two largest automotive markets. Ford declined to comment on the discussions.

The Competitive Reality Driving These Talks

Timing matters here. For the first time ever, BYD Co. (BYDDY) has overtaken Ford in total global vehicle sales. The Chinese electric vehicle giant reported approximately 4.6 million units sold for 2025, while Ford's global wholesales slipped nearly 2% to 4.4 million units.

That's not just a headline—it's a fundamental shift in the automotive pecking order. A company that many Americans had never heard of a decade ago is now outselling one of Detroit's Big Three.

Ford isn't ignoring this reality. The automaker has been in talks with BYD about expanding battery supply partnerships and has explored manufacturing collaborations in Europe with Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (GELYF). If you can't beat them, maybe you can work with them.

What the Numbers Say About Ford

Despite the competitive headwinds, Ford's fundamental picture shows some interesting characteristics. The company currently scores 87.86 on value metrics, suggesting it's trading at an attractive valuation compared to industry peers. Its quality rating of 75.64 reflects a solid balance sheet and consistent operational efficiency across core business segments.

Perhaps most surprising given the BYD news: Ford retains strong momentum at 84.91, indicating investor sentiment hasn't completely soured on the legacy automaker's prospects.

F Price Action: Ford shares were down 0.46% at $14.05 at the time of publication on Tuesday. The stock is approaching its 52-week high of $14.50.