Gallagher Ups Pressure on Ford Battery Plans

House Select Committee on China Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc) is continuing to put pressure on Ford Motor Company because of its partnership with China-based electric-vehicle battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL) to build a Michigan factory.

Mr. Gallagher and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash) said their "cursory review" uncovered evidence that Ford plans to use technology and software from at least four Chinese companies that supply the same types of information technology tools to the Chinese military, North Korean government and China’s Ministry of Public Security.

In letters sent to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the lawmakers called on the Administration to immediately blacklist these four companies that Ford plans to use in its new factory with Chinese battery maker CATL. The lawmakers said they want the companies blacklisted by February 5.

“It is indefensible for Ford to use the same cloud integration and data provider that is linked to North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sanctions evasion activity,” they wrote.

“Before the Ford plant even comes online, its entire security system could be compromised by this software...The same company that is actively supporting the PRC’s surveillance state will have the capability to embed backdoors, spyware, and other forms of malware within Ford’s iPaaS infrastructure, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of Ford’s sensitive information and posing risk to American’s data privacy rights.”

CATL, is the largest global maker of batteries for electric and hybrid cars, supplying General Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Tesla, Daimler’s electric buses and trucks, as well as many Chinese EV manufacturers.    The proposed Ford partnership is a licensing of the technology developed by CATL, with sourcing and manufacturing to be conducted by Ford.