Ford F-150 EV could be delayed due to trade-secret fight
A legal dispute between two South Korean battery suppliers (SK Innovation Co. and LG Chem Ltd.) could lead to a delay for the F-150 EV.
In filings with the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Ford and Volkswagen warn the U.S. against banning imports of components SKI needs to manufacture batteries that LG Chem says were developed using stolen trade secrets.
The commission is considering an order that would block SKI from importing components for its batteries, which would be made at a plant that is under construction. A trade judge said in February that LG Chem should be declared the winner in the dispute as punishment for SKI destroying key evidence. The trade agency is reviewing the judge’s findings, with a final decision due in October.
LG Chem says it will be able to fulfill Ford and VW’s battery needs, but the automakers disagree.
The electric F-150 is a key aspect of the US$11.5-billion investment in battery-powered vehicles that Ford has pledged through 2022. The U.S. automaker said in a May filing that it decided to source batteries from SKI after periodic meetings over several years with both of the South Korean companies. LG Chem had supplied batteries for its electric Focus car that launched in 2012.
Lawyers for Ford said the company has expended “significant resources and man-hours” testing SKI’s batteries and incorporating them into its production processes since the company won the F-150 contract. The automaker has 300 employees dedicated to the program at its assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and warned that a ruling could also impact jobs within its supply base and dealer network.
“Such threat to U.S. jobs is especially untenable given the skyrocketing unemployment rate and the millions of Americans who have recently lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ford said.
driving.ca
In filings with the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Ford and Volkswagen warn the U.S. against banning imports of components SKI needs to manufacture batteries that LG Chem says were developed using stolen trade secrets.
The commission is considering an order that would block SKI from importing components for its batteries, which would be made at a plant that is under construction. A trade judge said in February that LG Chem should be declared the winner in the dispute as punishment for SKI destroying key evidence. The trade agency is reviewing the judge’s findings, with a final decision due in October.
LG Chem says it will be able to fulfill Ford and VW’s battery needs, but the automakers disagree.
The electric F-150 is a key aspect of the US$11.5-billion investment in battery-powered vehicles that Ford has pledged through 2022. The U.S. automaker said in a May filing that it decided to source batteries from SKI after periodic meetings over several years with both of the South Korean companies. LG Chem had supplied batteries for its electric Focus car that launched in 2012.
Lawyers for Ford said the company has expended “significant resources and man-hours” testing SKI’s batteries and incorporating them into its production processes since the company won the F-150 contract. The automaker has 300 employees dedicated to the program at its assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and warned that a ruling could also impact jobs within its supply base and dealer network.
“Such threat to U.S. jobs is especially untenable given the skyrocketing unemployment rate and the millions of Americans who have recently lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ford said.
Ford and VW electric models may be delayed by trade-secret fight
The automakers are pressing courts to ignore possible rule-breaking so that a supply chain disruption can be avoided
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