Ford pushes back against White House concerns over Chinese partnerships
Ford rejected a Transportation Department letter that warned about reliance on Chinese technology, emphasizing that its Michigan battery plant is fully owned and that it is working with the administration on reshoring production.
The U.S. Transportation Secretary sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley expressing "profound concern" about the automaker's use of Chinese technology and partners, citing the battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, a joint venture with Geely in Spain, and talks with BYD for hybrid components. The letter also referenced a delayed plan to bring Lincoln Nautilus production back to the United States.
Ford responded after market close, saying the concerns were misplaced. The company clarified that its agreement with Chinese battery maker CATL is a limited technology-licensing and services contract, not a joint venture, and that Ford owns and operates the Michigan plant. It also described the claim of a delayed reshoring as "misguided" and noted ongoing collaboration with administration officials to return assembly to the U.S., citing recent praise from the Commerce Secretary.
Ford denied that Farley had proposed a framework to facilitate Chinese joint ventures in the United States, calling the letter a "wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines" that overlooked the company's contributions to American manufacturing.