Ford to Build EV Battery Plant , With Chinese Partner.<br />'Bloomberg' reports that Ford Motor Co. is teaming up with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL).<br />The U.S. automaker is investing $3.5 billion in the electric-vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan.<br />The U.S. automaker is investing $3.5 billion in the electric-vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan.<br />The plant, which will open in 2026, <br />will employ 2,500 workers.<br />It is expected to manufacture enough batteries for 400,000 EVs per year.<br />But the deal has drawn criticism considering the heightened tensions between America and China.<br />But the deal has drawn criticism considering the heightened tensions between America and China.<br />Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin <br />called the operation a "Trojan horse" <br />for China's Communist Party.<br />Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of EV industrialization, attempted to ease fears, saying Ford will maintain control over the operation.<br />Ford has control — control over the manufacturing, control over the production, control over the workforce. We’re licensing that technology from CATL, Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of EV industrialization, via statement.<br />Ford has control — control over the manufacturing, control over the production, control over the workforce. We’re licensing that technology from CATL, Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of EV industrialization, via statement.<br />Executive Chairman Bill Ford <br />also issued a statement.<br />Manufacturing these batteries in America <br />will bring us closer to battery independence. [CATL will] help us get up to speed so <br />we can build these batteries ourselves, Bill Ford, Ford Executive Chairman, via statement
