Pentagon: Ford’s EV Partner CATL Linked To Chinese Military
The Pentagon has designated CATL, a Chinese battery maker working with Ford on a $3.5 billion Michigan factory, as a “Chinese military company.” The designation raises new concerns over the state-backed project, which received nearly $2 billion in subsidies and tax incentives from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.
CATL has been a major force in the global electric vehicle battery market and is tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Zeng Yuqun, CATL’s founder, serves on a CCP advisory body that supports China’s strategic technological goals. Critics argue that these connections make CATL a national security concern, particularly as it gains influence in critical industries like green energy.
Ford’s Michigan factory, announced in 2023, was expected to create 2,500 jobs and produce up to 35 gigawatt-hours of EV batteries annually. However, Ford has since scaled back the project, citing declining consumer demand for electric vehicles. The Pentagon’s designation has added further challenges to the project’s future.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), who chairs the House Select Committee on the CCP, criticized the partnership, emphasizing that working with CCP-linked companies poses risks to national and economic security. He urged greater oversight of foreign investments to protect sensitive industries.
Whitmer’s administration has faced criticism for approving significant taxpayer funding for the project without fully examining CATL’s ties to the CCP. Reports from 2021 revealed that CCP-linked investors hold stakes in CATL, amplifying concerns about the company’s influence.
The controversy surrounding the Ford-CATL collaboration highlights the complexities of balancing clean energy initiatives with safeguarding U.S. national security. The Michigan facility remains under scrutiny as questions about CATL’s role continue to surface.
