Elon Musk is no stranger to making headlines, whether it’s for his ventures in EVs, social media takeovers, or firing rockets into space. Recently, rumors began that Musk had taken a massive step toward automobile dominance by acquiring Ford Motor Company. But as it turns out, the story is far from true.
Speculation about Musk’s supposed acquisition of Ford took off on November 7, after AI-generated YouTube videos circulated the unsubstantiated claim. The videos repeated various facts about Musk, Tesla, and Ford but failed to cite any sources or concrete evidence. Ford quickly dispelled the rumors.
“We don’t have much to say here other than the story’s false,” Ford spokesperson Ian Thibodeau told MySA.
It’s not surprising that Musk would be the subject of acquisition rumors, given his recent high-profile purchases. From buying Twitter (now rebranded as “X”) for $44 billion in 2022, to SpaceX’s high-stakes missions, Musk is known for bold moves. But as MySA noted, buying Twitter and buying Ford are two entirely different realms. Ford has been a formidable rival to Tesla in recent years, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Ford’s F-150 Lightning, which debuted in May 2022, hit the market before Tesla’s much-anticipated Cybertruck, which only began delivery in November 2023. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E has also become a direct competitor to Tesla’s Model Y.
Ford Motor Company, founded in Detroit in 1903, holds a historic place in the industry, having produced over 4.4 billion vehicles over 121 years. In comparison, Tesla, founded in 2003, has produced over 6 million vehicles. Today, Ford’s market valuation stands at $164.3 billion higher than the recently devalued X, which Musk transformed from Twitter into a $9.4 billion company.
While Musk’s ventures continue to expand in various sectors, his current responsibilities with Tesla, X, SpaceX, and the Boring Company already demand considerable attention. With these, Musk already has a full plate, making it unlikely that Ford’s acquisition is on the horizon.
For now, Ford remains an independent competitor in the race toward EV innovation.
