As Ford tries to navigate the turbulent waters of the energy transition, the company seems ready for an unexpected and politically risky move. The American giant is in active negotiations with the Chinese technology leader BYD to supply batteries intended for the new wave of hybrid cars of the “Blue Oval“. This news, although pragmatic from an economic point of view, caused a real tremor in Washington, where dependence on Chinese raw materials is considered a matter of national security.
For Ford, this alliance is a bitter admission that its aggressive strategy for full electrification is not developing according to plan. The decline in demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has forced the company to make a sharp turn towards hybrids - a segment in which BYD dominates with ruthless efficiency and low costs. Although the talks are still in the exploratory stage and no contract has been signed, the idea is for BYD batteries to power Ford models manufactured outside the US. It is a subtle attempt to circumvent strict trade barriers, but critics were quick to react.
Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's trade adviser, did not hold back on harsh words on social media, accusing Ford of voluntarily submitting to "blackmail from the Chinese supply chain". According to him, such a partnership will only strengthen the positions of a major competitor while making American industry vulnerable. This political pressure comes at a time when Ford is already under fire for another project - a plant in Michigan, which will use technology from another Chinese giant, CATL.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, the numbers speak for themselves. Ford's hybrid sales jumped nearly 22% in 2025, while all-electric models like the F-150 Lightning began to gather dust in warehouses. Jim Farley, Ford's CEO, is adamant: American consumers want choice, not forced electrification. But the question remains whether Ford will be able to maintain its identity if the heart of its best-selling models starts coming from the plants of the company that threatens to turn Tesla and the rest into a “footnote“.