With the Chicago Auto Show in our rearview mirror, our focus this week will be on Ford.
The automaker kicks off the week Monday morning with a press conference where it’s expected to reveal plans to build a new $3.5 billion EV battery plant with Chinese battery maker CATL.
The plant will be located just outside Battle Creek in southwest Michigan. The facility was somewhat infamously turned down by Virginia’s governor, who called it a “Trojan Horse” for Chinese battery makers. We’ll have the story.
Moving to the middle of the week, executives from the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker are going to be speaking virtually all day Wednesday, Feb. 15 — starting with Ford President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley and Chief Financial Officer John Lawler.
Talking shop
The pair sits down that morning for a fireside chat as part of Wolfe Research’s Global Auto, Auto Tech and Auto Consumer Conference in New York City.
According to the folks at Wolfe, Farley and Lawler will answer questions about the Ford+ growth plan; how the company is overhauling its operations to improve quality and reduce costs; and the automaker’s significant opportunities to expand capabilities and generate returns from software-enabled gas-powered and electric vehicles, along with value-added services.
Later that day, the Society of Automotive Analysts plays host to Jen Brace, Ford’s Trends and Futuring Manager. She’ll talk about consumer trends to watch and present highlights of the automaker’s annual “Further with Ford” Trends Report.
The report comes out each year and is designed to give Ford and others a look into what consumers will want and what Ford and other companies need to do to meet those expectations.
Those are just two of the big stories will be covering in the week ahead. Naturally, we’ll also cover all the breaking news of the week and offer up a slew of new vehicle reviews.