US Transportation Secretary Criticizes Ford for Ties with Chinese Companies
The U.S. Department of Transportation has criticized Ford over its collaboration with Chinese companies, particularly regarding a battery plant in Michigan that uses technology licensed from China's CATL. In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern about the strategic implications for national security and Western markets. Ford responded by emphasizing its commitment to American manufacturing, stating it owns and operates the BlueOval Battery Park facility in Marshall, Michigan, which employs 1,700 local workers. The company clarified that its agreement with CATL is a limited licensing arrangement rather than joint ownership or foreign control. The dispute highlights growing U.S.-China tensions over technology dependencies and supply chain security.
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Topics: automotive industry battery technology U.S.-China relations