Ratan Tata vs Ford: Viral Story of Insult by Bill Ford Debunked as Fabrication
In the wake of Ratan Tata’s passing, social media has been flooded with numerous stories about his legendary contributions and gestures that left an indelible mark on people worldwide. However, one viral story regarding an alleged insult from Ford’s chairman, Bill Ford, has been revealed to be false.
The story, which has circulated for years, claimed that during a 1999 meeting between Tata Motors and Ford, Bill Ford harshly criticized Ratan Tata and his team. According to the tale, Ford allegedly told Tata Motors they lacked expertise in the car industry and that buying their car division would be a favor. This narrative was said to have fueled Tata’s determination to turn Tata Motors into a powerhouse.
However, as cartoq.com recently reported, Bill Ford and his company have clarified that this story is entirely fabricated. Following Ratan Tata’s death, Bill Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford and executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, stated, The accounts of our meeting in some press reports could not be any further from the truth.
In fact, Ford expressed deep respect for Tata, recalling that they only met once in person. It was a warm and cordial meeting where we talked about the challenges and joys of running family businesses and our mutual love of cars, Ford said.
A spokesperson from Ford Motor Company also confirmed that the two leaders held each other in high regard, emphasizing that their professional relationship was based on mutual respect, not hostility. This clarification dispels the widely spread misinformation that had taken over social media.
