Ford Motor Company
––CATL
Route: Dearborn, Michigan -> Chongqing, Chongqing
Analysis
The Ford–CATL partnership is a strategic battery technology collaboration in which Ford licenses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology from CATL for use in electric vehicle manufacturing in the United States. Under the agreement, Ford owns and operates the battery production facility while CATL provides cell design, manufacturing expertise, and technical support. This structure allows Ford to deploy proven battery technology without relying on direct battery imports.
A central component of the partnership is BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, a battery manufacturing facility designed to produce LFP cells for Ford's next-generation electric vehicles. LFP chemistry offers lower costs, improved durability, and enhanced thermal stability compared with many nickel-based battery chemistries, making it attractive for high-volume EV production. The facility strengthens domestic battery manufacturing capacity while leveraging CATL's established technical capabilities.
The partnership addresses key challenges in EV supply chains by combining Ford's vehicle manufacturing scale with CATL's leadership in battery technology. Through technology transfer and localized production, the collaboration aims to reduce battery costs, improve supply chain resilience, and accelerate electric vehicle adoption in the North American market.
US Partner's Profile
Ford Motor Company
The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand, and luxury cars under its Lincoln brand.
Chinese Partner's Profile
CATL
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) is the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage batteries, specializing in lithium-ion technologies such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-based chemistries. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Ningde, CATL supplies batteries to major automakers including Tesla, BMW Group, and Mercedes-Benz Group. Through its large-scale manufacturing capacity, advanced battery research, and global supply chain, CATL has become a critical enabler of the worldwide transition to electric transportation and renewable energy storage.
A comprehensive directory of detailed profiles for all partner entities within the Meridian dataset is currently in development and will be released in a future update.