Chinese Battery Makers Hold 72% of Global EV Market; DOT Just Told Ford to Cut Ties

A written ultimatum from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, dated September 8, 2026, tells Ford CEO Jim Farley that the automaker’s licensed use of CATL battery technology in Michigan creates a “structural national security liability.” The DOT argues China’s National Intelligence Law compels Chinese firms—including those operating abroad—to cooperate with Beijing’s intelligence agencies, regardless of contractual licensing terms. The warning comes as seven Chinese companies controlled 72.8% of the global EV battery market from January to July 2026, with CATL at 39.9%. The letter targets Ford’s CATL use at BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, its Geely joint venture in Valencia, Spain, and a plan to move Lincoln Nautilus production back from China only until 2030.