Ford Motor Company's (F) business partnerships with Chinese companies drew criticism from the Trump administration on Tuesday, with US officials saying they pose significant national security concerns, multiple outlets reported.
In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the automaker's dealings with Chinese battery maker CATL and Chinese automakers Geely and BYD were of "profound concern," the report said.
Duffy said USDOT was "deeply alarmed" by Ford's reliance on licensed CATL battery technology at its Marshall, Michigan plant. He said Ford's joint venture with Geely in Spain helps a strategic adversary gain a foothold in Western markets, and that talks with BYD over hybrid components could further embed Chinese technology in Ford's supply chain, according to the report.
Duffy also said Ford's delay in moving Lincoln Nautilus production out of China until 2030 leaves an "unacceptable" multi-year reliance on Chinese manufacturing, the reports added.
Ford did not immediately respond to request for comment from.
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