BYD to provide electric vehicle batteries to Ford

Chinese electric automaker BYD will provide electric vehicle batteries to U.S. automaker Ford Motor, a document on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revealed on Monday.

Ford’s China venture with Changan Automobile is looking for government approval to construct a plug-in hybrid model geared up with BYD’s batteries, according to the document.

This marks BYD’s first-known battery supply deal with a significant international automaker.

Shenzhen-based BYD, which is backed by American billionaire Warren Buffett, said it would provide electric vehicle components including batteries and power management devices.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker stated in 2019 that it planned to launch over 30 new or significantly renovated models in China by the end of 2021, of which over a third are going to be electric vehicles.

Ford and BYD have not made any comments on this matter yet.