Ford to Source BYD Batteries to Boost Hybrid Vehicle Push

Ford is in talks with BYD to collaborate on supplying batteries for some of its hybrid models, potentially extending to Ford’s vehicle assembly plants outside the United States. This move stems from Ford’s recent strategic shift: due to weak demand for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), the company has scaled back its EV investments and expects to incur $19.5 billion in related charges, refocusing instead on hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, and internal combustion engine models. By 2030, Ford aims for approximately half of its global sales to come from new energy vehicles (including hybrids, extended-range, and BEVs). BYD, with its mature battery manufacturing capabilities, has emerged as an ideal partner. The two companies already have a history of collaboration—Changan Ford models began using BYD batteries as early as 2020. In the fourth quarter of last year, Ford’s hybrid vehicle sales rose 18% year-over-year to 55,000 units, and the success of the F-150 Hybrid has further reinforced Ford’s resolve to expand hybrid technology across more of its lineup.