Ford CEO Jim Farley Calls For More U.S. EV Battery Production

MerryBrown

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mary
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
416
Reaction score
809
Location
Northern, CA
Vehicles
2018 Ford Escape, Red Ford Mach-E on order
Occupation
Finance
Country flag
Ford CEO Jim Farley Calls For More U.S. EV Battery Production
by
f38c9845f7838091e633ec2454b974ed?s=40&r=g.jpg
Brett FooteFebruary 25, 2021, 7:27 am1Comment

Jim-Farley-Ford-President-and-CEO-758x506.jpg

Sponsored Links

As it faces an ongoing semiconductor chip shortage that has seriously hampered production, Ford is well aware of the many problems stemming from other imported parts. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact not only on automakers’ own production efforts but also the suppliers that provide them with parts needed to build vehicles. One thing in particular that concerns Ford CEO Jim Farley is EV battery production, which currently takes place mostly outside the U.S.
it-13th-Gen-Ford-F-150-Electric-prototype-1024x446.jpg

“We need to bring large-scale battery production to the U.S., and we’ll be talking to the government about that, CEO Jim Farley said while speaking at the Wolfe Research Auto Conference. “We can’t go through what we’re doing with chips right now with Taiwan. It’s just too important.”
Sponsored Links

SK Innovation, Ford’s battery supplier for the forthcoming Ford F-150 BEV, recently lost an intellectual property lawsuit against its rival, LG Chem. As a result, the International Trade Commission banned SK from importing batteries to the U.S. for ten years, though it will be allowed to import components that will be used in the F-150 BEV for the next four years.
2023-Ford-F-150-Electric-Teaser-001-1024x534.jpg

Last summer, Ford was adamant that it would continue to source its EV batteries from suppliers rather than making them in-house. However, just a few months later, Farley admitted that the automaker was looking into EV battery production, something that General Motors, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Daimler have all invested in.
Sponsored Links

Network-Access-Exterior-003-Charging-Port-1024x682.jpg

It’s unclear if Farley intends to move forward with these plans, or if the automaker is pushing for more EV battery suppliers to set up shop in the U.S., as SK Innovation was attempting to do before its legal battle halted those plans. Regardless, it’s clear that Ford is well aware of the potential problems importing these parts can cause moving forward, especially as it ramps up EV production.
 

SteelMach

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
666
Reaction score
725
Location
Michigan
Vehicles
2021 Mustang Mach-E
Country flag
This is a good sign. Unlike his predecessor, he understands that BEVs are the future and that no company can afford to just wait and watch from the sidelines while the transition occurs or they'll be left behind.
 

malba2366

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
448
Reaction score
427
Location
NY
Vehicles
911 C2S
Country flag
I think its more of an appeal to the president to overturn the ruling against SK Innovation - Ford is supposed to get F150 batteries from them.
 

malba2366

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
448
Reaction score
427
Location
NY
Vehicles
911 C2S
Country flag
And they still will for 4 years.
Yes but it is doubtful SK will complete their US factory if the ruling stands. This is a huge issue for such a high volume vehicle to have to be dependent on battery shipments from overseas.
 


generaltso

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Threads
69
Messages
14,706
Reaction score
26,803
Location
Vermont
Vehicles
2021 MME Premium AWD SR Infinite Blue
Country flag
Yes but it is doubtful SK will complete their US factory if the ruling stands. This is a huge issue for such a high volume vehicle to have to be dependent on battery shipments from overseas.
Yes, it's a big deal. But I bet SKI will end up reaching some agreement with LG Chem that involves paying them lots of money to let them continue selling batteries here.
 

prdude

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Feb 15, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
274
Reaction score
231
Location
pleasant ridge, MI
Vehicles
Space White w/Gray MME Prem ER RWD, 01 Miata
Occupation
engineer
Country flag
I think its more of an appeal to the president to overturn the ruling against SK Innovation - Ford is supposed to get F150 batteries from them.
I imagine Farley also has the microchip shortages in mind and wants to spur investment in domestic battery production
 

malba2366

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
448
Reaction score
427
Location
NY
Vehicles
911 C2S
Country flag
He has 90 days to overrule the ITC ruling. Obama did it with some quarrel between Apple and Samsung as well.
 

Illinibird

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
1,445
Location
Frankfort Illinois
Vehicles
2015 Acura MDX Adv; 2016 Titanium Fusion Hybrid
Occupation
retired Endodontist (root canal specialist) and Clinical Assistant Professor
Country flag
OFF TOPIC:
This has NOTHING to do with batteries but there is a resemblance to me with Jim Farley and the late Chris Farley. I guess they are cousins or something.
BACK ON TOPIC
 
Last edited:

dbsb3233

Well-Known Member
First Name
TimCO
Joined
Dec 30, 2019
Threads
54
Messages
9,298
Reaction score
10,812
Location
Colorado, USA
Vehicles
2021 Mustang Mach-E FE, 2023 Bronco Sport OB
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
OFF TOPIC:
This has NOTHING to do with batteries but there is a strong resemblance to me with Jim Farley and the late Chris Farley. I guess they are cousins or something.
BACK ON TOPIC
Yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Farley_(businessman)

James D. Farley Jr. (born June 10, 1962) is an American automotive executive who currently serves as Ford Motor Company's chief executive officer since October 1, 2020.[2] Before joining Ford in November 2007, Farley was group vice president and general manager of Lexus, responsible for all sales, marketing and customer satisfaction activities for Toyota’s luxury brand.[3] From May 2019 to February 2020, Farley served at President, New Business, Technology and Strategy. From June 2017 to May 2019 he served as Executive Vice President and president of Global Markets. From 2015 to 2017, he was CEO and Chairman of Ford Europe. He had an early interest in automobiles, primarily spurred from his grandfather who worked at Henry Ford's River Rouge Plant starting in 1914.

On August 4, 2020, Ford announced that Jim Farley would succeed Jim Hackett as the CEO of Ford on October 1, 2020. At the same time it was announced that Jim Hackett would retire and become a special advisor.[4]
[5]

He was born in Argentina to a father who was a banker, and graduated from Georgetown University and the University of California, Los Angeles.[6] He is a cousin of Chris Farley.
[7]
 
 




Top