Ford’s recently announced deal with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) to build a $3.5 billion battery plant in Michigan has concerned upper factions of the Chinese government, as it’s felt that the Blue Oval could unfairly benefit from access to CATL’s industry-leading technologies.
The extent of Ford’s deal with CATL is said to be under current analysis by senior Chinese leaders, based on a report by Bloomberg. The new factory – set to begin production of lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2026 – will be called Blue Oval Battery Park Michigan. The plant will become the first in the USA to produce LFP batteries, giving Ford a significant edge over the competition.
But ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing are said to have resulted in worries about Ford’s deal with CATL, which is why it is now being more closely evaluated over a period that hasn’t been disclosed.