US warns Ford over partnerships with Chinese firms amid security concerns

U.S. officials have publicly warned that Ford Motor Co.’s collaborations with Chinese firms—battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), automaker Geely and electric‑vehicle specialist BYD—pose security risks. Representatives from the Commerce Department and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) said the partnerships could expose sensitive vehicle‑technology data and create vulnerabilities in the supply chain, prompting a review of the arrangements under existing national‑security guidelines.

Ford acknowledged the concerns but emphasized that its agreements with CATL, Geely and BYD comply with all U.S. regulations and are essential to its electric‑vehicle rollout. The company said it has implemented data‑protection safeguards and will cooperate with any further government assessment. The scrutiny reflects a broader U.S. effort to monitor Chinese involvement in critical‑technology sectors as policymakers weigh the balance between market competition and national security.