Over the past month, numerous claims and rumors have surfaced about Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. The latest claim, which has taken social media by storm, alleged that the billionaire has acquired the Ford automobile brand, a move surprising the world. However, our thorough investigation has revealed that the claim is false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A claim widely circulated on social media platforms early this month suggested that Canadian-American billionaire Elon Musk acquired the American automaker, Ford, an unexpected move that surprised the world.
Below is a snapshot of the viral claim posted on Facebook on November 04, 2024, stating, “Elon Musk surprises the world with Ford acquisition”
The claim continues: “In an unexpected move, Elon Musk has announced the acquisition of the iconic Ford automobile brand, marking a milestone in the automobile industry. The acquisition, which surprised investors and industry followers alike, is portrayed as a revolutionary step in the electric and autonomous vehicle market.”
The claim has been widely shared on Facebook, accumulating nearly 3,000 shares since it began circulating. Many users have reacted to the post, expressing surprise and curiosity about the potential implications of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Ford.
The claim was also circulated on social media in Spanish, where it received a significant amount of attention. It garnered numerous shares, comments, and reactions from Spanish-speaking users, further amplifying the reach and impact of the post.
Below is a snapshot of the Spanish claim which was posted on Facebook on November 03, 2024, saying, “Elon Musk sorprende al mundo con la adquisición de Ford.”
The same claim was circulated on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, with an additional detail stating that Elon Musk plans to combine Ford with Tesla’s cutting-edge technologies.
Below is a snapshot of the claim circulated on X (formerly Twitter) on November 07. 2024, stating, “Elon Musk surprises the world with Ford acquisition.”
This claim was published in a report (archived) by an Albanian media outlet yesterday, but it did not provide attribution to any reliable sources. The absence of credible references has led to skepticism about the validity of the information.
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo initiated the debunking process by examining credible news reports from internationally reputable media outlets in the United States of America. This thorough investigation revealed the following facts.
There have been no credible news reports from international media outlets like CNN, BBC, or reputable news sources regarding Elon Musk’s acquisition of the Ford Motor Company.
Upon searching Ford’s Newsroom, it is evident that no official announcements have been released by the corporation regarding this matter as of early November.
Below is a snapshot from Ford’s Newsroom, featuring the latest news release dated November 07, 2024, which details the company’s 2025 Bronco model.
After examining Tesla’s news blog, it is clear that no official announcement regarding the acquisition of Ford has been released. Additionally, Elon Musk has not tweeted about it on his official X (formerly Twitter) as of today.
Tesla News Blog | Archived Link
The most recent news about the cooperation between these automobile giants emerged earlier this year when they reached an agreement allowing Ford EV customers to use Tesla’s supercharging stations across the United States and Canada.
This news was officially released on Ford’s Newsroom and widely covered by media outlets such as CNBC, which reported that Tesla earned billions of dollars after opening its supercharging stations to Ford customers.
An imagery analysis by a fact-checking organization based in Chile found the images of Ford CEO Jim Farley shaking hands with Elon Musk were manipulated.
In response to the Fact Crescendo’s inquiry, Ford’s Corporate Communications Manager, Ian Thibodeau, clarified that the viral claim is ‘fake.’ He also confirmed that the images of Ford CEO Jim Farley shaking hands with Tesla CEO Elon Musk were generated by artificial intelligence applications.
Since its inception, Ford has produced cars with internal combustion engines. However, in recent years, the company has shifted towards the production of electric vehicles due to the increasing need EV market.
According to Ford’s EV Strategy published on its website, the American automaker has already shifted to producing electric vehicles. In 2022, Ford emerged as the No. 2 player in the U.S. EV market, just behind Elon Musk’s Tesla.
According to a report, Elon Musk’s Tesla has dominated the U.S. EV market for several years. However, its market share has fallen below 50 percent since the first half of 2024.
Over the past month, numerous claims have surfaced regarding Tesla, SpaceX, and their founder Elon Musk. For more information, check out our previous debunking stories related to the billionaire and his conglomerates.
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CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo has discovered the earlier claim is false. There has been no official announcement from either company regarding the acquisition of the Ford automobile brand. The claim is merely a rumor with no basis.
Title:Viral Rumor Claims Elon Musk Acquired Ford Motor Company
Written By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: False