Ford Hit with Bipartisan Pushback Over Chinese Ties and Battery Plans

Ford is facing bipartisan pressure from the Trump administration and GOP lawmakers over its ties to Chinese firms, including a CATL-licensed battery technology at its Michigan plant, a planned 66% Ford / 34% Geely joint venture in Valencia, Spain, and talks with BYD on batteries for hybrids. Ford stresses the CATL deal is licensing/servicing, not a manufacturing joint venture, and says it would still own and control the U.S. plant, but critics warn of dependence on Chinese tech and IP and have urged greater transparency as investigations seek details on termination rights, tech support, and potential China-based manufacturing.