"After 120 years, we've seen a lot of competition," says Ford CEO Jim Farley to Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi in the grand hall of the newly refurbished Michigan Central station.

The historic building is, in many ways, the crown jewel of the automaker’s new $1 billion Detroit-based campus. Ford’s 30-acre innovation district, centered around the station, will serve as a base for developing its autonomous and electric vehicle businesses. The development serves as something of an emblem for Ford’s (F) future ambitions, much of that, today, takes the form of the push into the EV space. "It was Bill Ford's vision to make the commitment to revitalize this building," says Farley.

In a wide-ranging interview, Farley discusses everything from demand, the upcoming Presidential election... and whether or not Tesla CEO Elon Musk (TSLA) texts him back.