Ford pours billions in Michigan EV battery plant with China

Ford Motor Company is investing billions of dollars in a new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Michigan, with a Chinese partner. The new plant is part of Ford’s ambitious plans to become an electric vehicle leader in the US.

The new plant will be located in Michigan’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant and will be operated by a joint venture between Ford and Chinese-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL). The plant will produce EV batteries for Ford’s upcoming electric vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150.

The joint venture will invest $4.5 billion in the new plant, with Ford contributing $2.6 billion and CATL contributing $1.9 billion. This investment is part of Ford’s plan to invest $11.5 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle technology by 2022.

The new plant is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs in Michigan. Ford will also be investing in other EV-related projects in the state, including a new research center in Dearborn and a new EV battery testing and development center in Livonia.

Ford’s partnership with CATL is part of a larger trend of US automakers partnering with Chinese companies to develop electric vehicles. General Motors has partnered with Shanghai-based SAIC Motor to produce electric vehicles in China, while Tesla has partnered with Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology to produce batteries for its cars in China.

Ford’s investment in the new Michigan plant is a sign of the company’s commitment to electric vehicles. The company is investing heavily in EV technology and is determined to become a leader in the US EV market. With this new plant, Ford will have the capacity to produce enough batteries to meet the demand for its upcoming electric vehicles.