Core Viewpoint - Ford Motor Co. is opposed to attending a Senate committee hearing on vehicle safety features, citing scheduling conflicts and the subject matter as reasons for its stance [1][2]. Group 1: Hearing Opposition - Ford has expressed its opposition to the Senate hearing led by Sen. Ted Cruz, which will focus on vehicle safety features such as automatic emergency braking [1][2]. - The automaker's opposition is partly due to scheduling conflicts with the Detroit Auto Show, which coincides with the hearing [2]. - Ford has requested equal treatment for all companies involved, emphasizing that other automakers should have the opportunity to present similar witnesses as Tesla's VP of Engineering was invited instead of CEO Elon Musk [3]. Group 2: Safety Features Discussion - The hearing is expected to address safety features like rear seat occupant alerts and automatic emergency braking, which are viewed as redundant and potentially increasing vehicle costs [4]. Group 3: Regulatory Changes - The news coincides with the rollback of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards by the Trump administration, which Ford's CEO Jim Farley supports, believing it will enhance focus on U.S.-made products [5]. - The rollback is also endorsed by Trump's Transportation Secretary and Sen. Cruz, who argue it will improve safety and reduce vehicle costs [5]. Group 4: Recall Issues - Ford is facing ongoing recall challenges, having recalled over 270,000 units from various models due to a roll-away risk [6]. - Despite these challenges, Ford is noted to perform well on Momentum, Quality, and Value metrics, with a favorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term [6].