Ford Motor Company has announced plans to construct a new battery facility in the United States that will utilize Chinese technology. The facility, which is expected to be completed by 2022, will be located in Southeast Michigan and will produce lithium-ion batteries for Ford’s electric vehicles.
The new facility is part of Ford’s $11.5 billion investment in electric vehicles, which includes the development of 40 new electric vehicles by 2022. The company has already invested $4.5 billion in electric vehicle development and plans to invest an additional $7 billion by 2022.
Ford has partnered with Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to supply the technology for the new facility. CATL is one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers and has supplied batteries for several major automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler.
The new facility will create hundreds of jobs in the region and will help Ford meet its goal of producing 1 million electric vehicles by 2022. The company is also investing in other areas of electric vehicle production, such as charging infrastructure and autonomous driving technology.
Ford’s decision to utilize Chinese technology for its new battery facility is a sign of the growing importance of electric vehicles in the automotive industry. As more automakers invest in electric vehicle production, the demand for batteries is expected to increase significantly. By partnering with CATL, Ford is ensuring that it has access to the latest technology and can remain competitive in the rapidly changing automotive industry.