Ford's CEO has addressed concerns raised by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about the automaker's partnerships with Chinese companies. Duffy criticized Ford for relying on Chinese state-backed enterprises, particularly a plant that uses technology licensed from Chinese battery giant CATL. Ford's CEO dismissed these concerns as "basic misunderstandings" and clarified that the company would own and operate the facility, assembling batteries in the U.S. The company confirmed that it is using licensed technology from CATL but emphasized that the production and control remain in American hands. Ford is preparing to launch a new, more affordable electric pickup truck called the Fathom. Priced at $28,350 before destination fees, the Fathom is built on Ford's new Universal EV platform and developed by the company's "skunkworks" team—known for working on innovative projects with high autonomy. The goal is to compete with Chinese electric vehicles by keeping costs low while still offering advanced features. Production of the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are known for their durability and lower cost, is ramping up and is expected to be ready for shipment in 2026. Ford announced in 2023 that it would begin manufacturing its own LFP batteries at the BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan. This move underscores Ford's emphasis on American manufacturing, as the company claims to be the "most American automaker" due to its high level of U.S. production, employment of hourly manufacturing workers, and exports from the U.S. Despite ending production of its current F-150 Lightning electric pickup this year, Ford plans to introduce a next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV with over 700 miles of combined range using a battery and gasoline-powered generator. The Fathom will use one of Ford’s new LFP battery packs and include features such as a NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging port, bidirectional charging that allows the vehicle to power homes or tools, and hardware for Ford’s next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving system on highways. Designed with four doors, five passenger seats, a spacious rear bed, a front trunk for extra storage, and a midsize footprint, the Fathom will offer more passenger space than a Toyota RAV4, aiming to appeal to a broad range of consumers.