Despite forecasting a loss of US$19.5 billion due to the revision of its electric vehicle strategy, Ford has not given up on the technology, betting on readjusting its portfolio to hybrids and on partnerships to adapt to the new market situation.
One deal under negotiation is with BYD , which recently surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest seller of electric cars. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) , the American automaker is negotiating the purchase of batteries from the Chinese company for use in some hybrid models.
The terms of the partnership are still under discussion, including the possibility of Ford importing batteries through factories outside the United States .
The deal would be timely for Ford, which announced in December that it would reduce its investments in electric vehicles, despite building a battery factory in the state of Michigan.
The automaker announced plans to expand its range of hybrid cars , while focusing the development of purely electric vehicles on smaller, more affordable models to meet demand in the American market.
BYD has established itself as a supplier of high-quality batteries . Before becoming the largest electric vehicle manufacturer, it developed its battery production capacity, including for hybrids.
Most of the production takes place in China , but BYD is opening factories in regions such as Southeast Asia, Europe, and Brazil . Data from Bernstein Research, cited by the WSJ , indicates that BYD's battery sales rose 47% last year.
Ford is not the only American automaker that relies on partnerships to make the production of electric and hybrid vehicles viable. General Motors (GM) has already signed agreements with companies in South Korea for the supply of equipment.
It also wouldn't be the first time Ford and BYD have joined forces. In 2020, Ford began using BYD batteries in China in cars manufactured by its joint venture with the state-owned Changan.
The new partnership comes at a time when American automakers are feeling the effects of the Trump administration's decision to reverse subsidy policies for electric cars in the United States.
Since his re-election, Trump has been dismantling Joe Biden's environmental and electric vehicle policies. In September, the White House ended the subsidy of up to $7,500 for the purchase of electric vehicles and relaxed rules on emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.
With the end of subsidies, a drop in electric vehicle sales is expected in the US. Unlike the European and Asian markets, the American market has always faced higher prices, even with tax credits.
To overcome this situation, automakers are betting on hybrids. At Ford, sales of this type of vehicle increased by 18% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year, totaling approximately 55,000 units.
At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated that the company has seen good results with the hybrid variant of the F-150 and intends to expand into other hybrids and vehicles with extended range.
