An example illustrating the ongoing link between U.S. manufacturing and Chinese battery technology is Ford Motor Co.’s development of an LFP battery plant in Michigan. The plant employs licensed technology from CATL, with Ford owning and managing the facility while CATL supplies the licensed battery technology. In September 2026, federal officials renewed their scrutiny of this arrangement. The project highlights that Chinese companies still hold significant expertise in LFP manufacturing, even when production occurs within the United States. Graphite, cathodes and anodes remain central to U.S. battery supply chain security. Supply Chains Remain Interconnected Through Technology Battery demand extends well beyond the passenger vehicle sector. In 2025, LFP chemistry accounted for more than 90% of global stationary storage installations. U.S. utility companies continue to increase grid-scale storage, which underscores the importance of secure supplies of cells, graphite, cathodes, and other battery materials. While new U.S. factories have ramped up final production, processing and component manufacturing remain central to the country’s ongoing dependence on Chinese supply chains for battery materials.
