New York, Feb 4, 2026, 10:57 EST — Regular session
- Ford shares climbed roughly 2% in early trading, staying close to $14
- Reuters reported that Ford and Geely are negotiating on manufacturing and vehicle technology for the European market
- Investors are eyeing the Feb. 10 results for any news on supply disruptions and the outlook
Ford Motor Company shares climbed roughly 1.9% to $13.99 in late morning trading Wednesday, having reached that price earlier in the session.
The boost is crucial as Ford aims to maintain steady cash flow from its core pickups and commercial vehicles, even as it invests in a market where software and driver-assistance tech can quickly shift demand and prices.
The timing is tight, coming just before Ford’s earnings report next week. Investors are looking for updates on how disruptions and warranty risks are impacting margins and cash flow.
Reuters reported that Ford and China’s Geely have been negotiating for months on a potential partnership. The deal could allow Geely to use Ford’s European factories—possibly the plant in Valencia, Spain—and share tech like automated driving, which handles steering and braking autonomously in certain scenarios. Building cars in Europe might help Geely dodge EU tariffs that can reach 37.6% on EVs made in China. A U.S. collaboration, however, would probably attract political scrutiny, the report added. Ford responded: “We have discussions with lots of companies all the time… Sometimes they materialize, sometimes they don’t.” CEO Jim Farley has described China’s lead in electric vehicles and connected-car software—systems that update remotely and send data—as “the most humbling thing I have ever seen.” Reuters
Other auto shares showed a mixed picture. General Motors climbed around 1.9%, Stellantis gained roughly 4.1%, but Tesla slid about 1.5%.
Ford announced a regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, set to be paid on March 2 to shareholders registered by the close of business on Feb. 13.
U.S. auto safety regulators widened a probe to cover roughly 1.27 million 2015–2017 Ford F-150 pickups, following reports of unexpected downshifts, sudden deceleration, and occasional brief rear-wheel lockup or skidding. The NHTSA has launched an engineering analysis, marking a more thorough phase in its defect investigation, after completing initial reviews.
Supply issues linger. Novelis, a major aluminum supplier, hasn’t fully restarted production more than four months after a fire in September, sources told Reuters. Ford warned this disruption might cut production by as many as 100,000 F-Series trucks through the end of 2025, with potential costs hitting $2 billion. Novelis said it “will continue to leverage alternate sources… to mitigate impact,” while Ford plans to update investors when it releases earnings next week. Reuters
No deal with Geely is currently on the table, and investors remain in the dark about the financials even if discussions move forward. Any partnership involving sensitive technology risks triggering regulatory or political pushback, which could quickly delay the process.
Ford will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Tuesday, Feb. 10, with the report due at 4:05 p.m. ET and a management call following at 5:00 p.m. ET. Investors are keen to hear any updates on talks with Geely, along with guidance on truck demand and pricing. Supply chain and warranty issues remain a focus—whether they’re improving or worsening will be closely watched.
