September 8, 2026 — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged Ford Motor Company to cut ties with mainland Chinese battery and automotive companies, while Ford defended its manufacturing and technology strategy.
In a public letter, Duffy said Ford’s relationships involving CATL, Geely and BYD raised national-security and industrial-policy concerns. The Department of Transportation highlighted Ford’s licensed use of CATL battery technology at a plant in Marshall, Michigan, its work with Geely, and continued production of the Lincoln Nautilus in mainland China until a planned U.S. shift in 2030.
Reuters reported that Ford said it owns and controls the Michigan battery operation and that it is committed to domestic manufacturing. The company’s response disputes the characterization that the licensing arrangement gives CATL control of the plant.
Claim boundaries
The government’s concerns and Ford’s response are competing attributed positions. The material reviewed for this report does not independently establish that any specific Ford arrangement transferred protected data, violated law or created a demonstrated security breach.
Congress and federal agencies have been considering broader restrictions on vehicles and connected technology linked to mainland China. Those policy debates form the context for the letter but do not resolve the facts of Ford’s individual agreements.
For a separate examination of the licensing and supply-chain questions, see our analysis.