*This content was translated by AI.
As the U.S. Department of Transportation zeroes in on Ford's licensing agreement with China's battery company CATL, sparking intense controversy, analysts are pointing to a calculated, behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign by its cross-town rival, General Motors (GM), as the driving force behind the crisis. This has drawn sharp attention from the industry. Recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent an open letter to Ford's CEO expressing deep concern over the use of CATL technology within Ford's battery production facility in Marshall, Michigan.
Ford immediately pushed back, dismissing the Department of Transportation's letter as a misguided approach designed merely for headline decoration. The company strongly emphasized that it fully owns its factory's equity and employs a large number of American workers. However, numerous independent media reports and industry insiders have identified GM's long-term campaign to counter the government as the true spark behind this crisis. In fact, for several years, GM has consistently warned Congress and the administration that licensing agreements for Chinese-made batteries could destabilize the entire U.S. automotive supply chain.
A comparison of federal lobbying expenditures by both companies clearly shows that GM has invested overwhelmingly more funds than Ford. The fact that many of the core arguments contained in the Transportation Secretary's letter align precisely with claims GM previously submitted to Congress further bolsters suspicions of this behind-the-scenes influence. Notably, GM is known to have maintained close communication lines with key administration figures, including direct cooperation in developing an official navigation app led by institutional investors under the Department of Transportation.
However, some critics point out that GM itself has a history of partnering with Chinese companies or utilizing overseas platforms during its own electrification transition, offering a sharp critique. Consequently, the prevailing assessment is that this massive U.S. government offensive is not merely a regulatory measure based on national security concerns, but rather the product of an intense and ruthless power struggle between domestic companies vying to completely dominate the North American finished vehicle market. The unseen power struggle between the two companies is expected to have significant repercussions for U.S. electric vehicle and battery policies. This incident is projected to become a major watershed moment that will determine the future direction of the entire U.S. automotive industry, extending beyond mere corporate conflict. Members of Congress and industry officials are closely monitoring how the interests of both companies may clash during upcoming hearings or additional policy announcements.
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*This content was translated by AI.
