Recent speculation about Tesla CEO Elon Musk purchasing the Ford Motor Company has been definitively debunked by Ford officials.
Ford spokesperson Ian Thibodeau dismissed the rumors on Thursday, November 7, stating simply that “the story’s totally false.”
The unfounded claims appear to have originated from AI-generated YouTube videos lacking credible sources.
These videos merely compiled basic information about Musk, Tesla, and Ford without providing any substantiation for the alleged acquisition.
Market Context
While Musk has been making headlines for various reasons, including his support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and SpaceX’s successful Starship launch in South Texas, acquiring Ford would be a significantly different endeavor than his previous corporate purchases. For comparison:
- Musk’s Twitter acquisition in 2022: $44 billion (now valued at $9.4 billion as X)
- Ford’s current market valuation: $164.3 billion
Competition in the EV Market
Ford has emerged as a significant competitor to Tesla in the electric vehicle market:
- Ford’s F-150 Lightning beat Tesla’s Cybertruck to market, launching in May 2022
- The Mustang Mach-E continues to compete directly with Tesla’s Model Y
- Ford is expanding its EV charging infrastructure, partnering with various travel centers including Buc-ee’s
Company Perspectives
Ford:
- Founded: 1903 in Detroit
- Total vehicles produced: Over 4.4 billion in 121 years
Tesla:
- Founded: 2003
- Total vehicles produced: Over 6 million
- Headquarters: Relocated to Austin in 2022 (Giga Texas)
While Musk oversees multiple major companies including Tesla, X, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, there is no evidence to suggest Ford Motor Company will be added to this portfolio.
