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StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 12 September 2026•Updated 12 September 2026•
2 min read

Transportation Department Presses Ford on China; GM Develops U.S. Grid Batteries

Key Facts

1The Transportation Department urged Ford on September 8, 2026, to cut ties with Chinese companies, citing CATL-licensed technology in Michigan.
2GM and Peak Energy are developing sodium-ion cells for grid-scale storage, with Michigan prototypes planned during 2026.
3GM's separate LMR-cell program targets late-2027 pre-production and commercial production in the United States during 2028.
4On September 11, 2026, GM closed at $85.62 and F closed at $13.97.

The Transportation Department urged Ford on September 8, 2026, to cut ties with Chinese companies, citing its use of CATL-licensed battery technology in Michigan. General Motors (GM), meanwhile, is expanding battery research in the United States, but the official record does not show that GM launched its programs in response to the pressure on Ford.

GM announced on June 9, 2026, that it was developing next-generation sodium-ion cells with Peak Energy for grid-scale storage, backed by an investment from GM Ventures. The company plans to prototype the cells during 2026 at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren, Michigan.

The sodium-ion program is distinct from the electric-vehicle battery initiative described in the original copy. Sodium-ion cells store and release energy through ion movement much like lithium-ion cells, while characteristics suited to stationary storage could reduce cooling and maintenance complexity if development targets are met.

GM's electric-vehicle strategy includes a separate lithium manganese-rich, or LMR, cell program with LG Energy Solution. The venture plans pre-production in late 2027 and commercial production in the United States during 2028, alongside investment in domestic manufacturing and North American sourcing of lithium, graphite and manganese.

The Transportation Department's objections to Ford extend beyond batteries. The department also cited Ford's partnership with Geely to make low- and zero-emission vehicles in Spain and some Lincoln models' continued reliance on Chinese production until 2030. The release represents a stated government position, not a final regulatory ruling on Ford's arrangements.

Ford said in a June 17, 2026, update that BlueOval Battery Park Michigan had begun assembling LFP cells and that quality testing was following CATL practices for production verification. The plant had hired more than 500 people, targeted 800 employees by year-end and 1,700 jobs overall, while Ford expected to ship batteries during 2026 and characterized the arrangement as onshoring critical technology.

GM closed at $85.62 on September 11, 2026, after a session low of $85.31, while F closed at $13.97 after a low of $13.88. Those figures correct the original English copy, but they do not establish that the policy dispute caused either stock's movement; attention now turns to any further official action and the companies' execution against their stated production timelines.