John Robert Moolenaar, U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District, said on Feb. 3 that Ford Motor Company’s partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) raises concerns in Congress about growing U.S. reliance on Chinese firms tied to the country’s military-linked industrial base.
"Ford’s CEO is right that manufacturing is vital to America’s future. However, Ford’s answer is wrong. Signing a licensing agreement with a Chinese military company and embedding CATL into U.S. auto supply chains is the wrong way to go. We’ve seen what dependence on CCP companies means for rare earths and autos. Ford is making the same mistake, deepening dependence on a Chinese military," Moolenaar said in a post on X.
His comments come as lawmakers increase scrutiny of electric vehicle supply chains and U.S. partnerships with Chinese battery manufacturers. According to a post from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on X, the statement was issued in response to remarks from Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasizing the importance of domestic manufacturing. The committee has previously examined partnerships between U.S. firms and Chinese entities in the battery and critical minerals sectors through formal letters and oversight inquiries.
Moolenaar argued that while Ford is right to emphasize domestic manufacturing, its licensing arrangement with CATL moves in the opposite direction by increasing exposure to companies linked to China’s government and military ecosystem, raising broader national security concerns over critical supply chains.
Ford is developing the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility in Marshall, a major investment in domestic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production. The facility is expected to produce LFP cells and energy storage systems using licensed technology, supporting thousands of jobs and expanding U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing capacity. Ford has described the project as part of its broader strategy to strengthen domestic battery supply chains.
China remains a dominant supplier of materials critical to battery and defense technologies. Between 2020 and 2023, it accounted for roughly 70% of U.S. rare earth imports, according to U.S. government data. In January 2025, the Department of Defense added Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) to its list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States, citing concerns tied to China’s military-civil fusion strategy.
Moolenaar has represented Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District since 2023, following earlier service in Congress beginning in 2015. He previously served in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature. He currently chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, where he leads oversight efforts focused on national security risks related to foreign economic influence and critical supply chains.
