US DOT Presses Ford to Sever China Tech Ties Over Battery Licensing

The US Department of Transportation has formally asked Ford Motor Company to reconsider its technology partnerships with Chinese firms, according to a letter sent to CEO Jim Farley. The department expressed deep concern about the automaker’s ongoing use of licensed technology from CATL, China’s largest battery manufacturer.

The request reflects escalating scrutiny in Washington over American automakers’ reliance on Chinese battery expertise. Ford has leaned on CATL’s know-how to advance its electric vehicle battery production, a relationship that now faces heightened political pressure.

The letter signals that regulatory attention on cross-border technology licensing in the auto sector is intensifying. For Ford, unwinding these ties could affect its EV battery strategy and timeline, though no specific directives or deadlines were outlined in the reported communication.