President Donald Trump offered some business advice to Ford Motor : because of the administration’s high tariffs on car imports from China, Ford can start making its Focus Active in the United States.
Ford wasted little time responding to say that wasn’t going to happen.
“It would not be profitable to build the Focus Active in the U.S. given an expected annual sales volume of fewer than 50,000 units,” Ford said .
The statement came after Trump tweeted about an article from August 31, when Ford announced that it was canceling plans to make the Focus Active, a compact crossover, in China and ship them to the United States.
“This is just the beginning. This car can now be BUILT IN THE U.S.A. and Ford will pay no tariffs!” Trump wrote, citing a Reuters article posted on CNBC.
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, including some automobiles, in a move Trump has touted as necessary to punish Beijing for what he says are its unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. China has retaliated in kind, and Washington and Beijing have continue to ratchet up threats of more tariffs.
Ford spokesman Michael Levine said the Focus Active is built in Europe. The company had plans to begin making the vehicle in China in the latter half of 2019 and exporting them to the US market.
But Ford said last month that it was scrapping that plan because Trump’s tariffs would make the cars too expensive.
The company also reaffirmed that it has no plans to start making the car on US soil. It will continue to sell the vehicle outside the states.
Sedans and other small cars are falling out of favor with Americans.
Ford already announced earlier this year that it would reallocate $7 billion of research and development funds from cars to SUVs and trucks. Executive James Farley said at an investor’s conference in January that the carmaker’s lineup is “shifting from cars to utilities.”
It’s not just Ford. All three Detroit automakers have made it clear that they’re going all-in on SUVs and trucks.
Ford added in its statement that it’s committed to “growing its U.S. vehicle lineup – including introducing all-new trucks, utilities, hybrids and fully electric vehicles.”
The company said about 80% of the vehicles Ford sells in the United States are built domestically.
Ford Says No Thanks To Trump Advice
Sep 10, 2018 | 12:43 PM

More From WJR
Southfield's Spaulding for Children Helps Local Foster Children
PODCAST: Nov. 7, 2025 ~ The metro Detroit nonprofit Jarc recently kicked off its fall fundraising campaign by announcing that it will look to raise $1.2 million to support the nonp...
18h ago
Cameron Boozer Sparks Second-Half Surge as Duke Tops Michigan State
EAST LANSING ~ In a heavyweight showdown that felt like March in December, No. 4 Duke outlasted No. 7 Michigan State 66-60 at the Breslin Center. The Spartans led for much of the f...
Dec 06, 2025
GEHA Partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Wayne State to Boost Literacy in Detroit
DETROIT - A new partnership is bringing thousands of free books to Detroit's youngest readers. The Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) has teamed up with Dolly Parton's ...
Dec 05, 2025
SPOTLIGHT PODCAST

Dec. 5, 2025 ~ John Bernia, superintendent of Warren Consolidated Schools, joins Marie Osborne to talk about the new report that says Michigan school students are showing progress in math.

Dec. 5, 2025 ~ Amanda Holm, senior project manager for Henry Ford Health’s Tobacco Treatment Service, joins Marie Osborne to discuss cigarette smoking and provides tips on how to kick the habit.

Dec. 5, 2025 ~ Shawn Wilson, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, joins Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson to talk about USHER and Big Sean announcing an Entertainment Innovation Incubator coming to the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK





