CATL to provide tech, service support to Ford's new battery plant in U.S.
An exhibitor shows a product to a visitor at the exhibition area of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a leading Chinese battery manufacturer and clean energy technology company, during "RE+ 2022" show in Orange County, California, the United States, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
China's battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) on Tuesday confirmed to work with Ford Motor Company on the latter's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in the U.S. state of Michigan, providing technology and service support to the new plant, reported Shanghai Securities News.
Ford on the same day announced to invest 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in the new plant, which is wholly owned by the U.S. automaker. The plant is expected to be put into production in 2026, providing battery packs for about 400,000 Ford electric vehicles each year, according to the company.
The cooperation between CATL and Ford allows both sides to leverage their resource and strength, so as to provide competitive products to the market, said a representative with CATL, introducing that the Chinese company will provide preparation and operation services, as well as licensing support of the patented battery technology to the new plant.
Prior to this recent cooperation, the two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2022 that outlines their global strategic cooperation, which includes CATL providing LFP battery packs for Ford's North American Mustang Mach-E models and F-150 Lightnings.