Chinese battery group Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd said on Tuesday that it has accepted Ford's invitation for collaboration in its battery factory in Marshall, Michigan, and will license its intellectual properties for battery technologies to the latter.

The move came as Ford announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan on Monday, which will be wholly owned by its subsidiary instead of a joint venture.

"We are working together to provide the market with the most competitive products. Such model of cooperation is about complementing and reinforcing each other for the industry leaders of CATL and Ford," said CATL in a reply to China Daily.

Ford said the plant is expected to open in 2026 and employ about 2,500 people, and it will produce new lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, batteries.

"Manufacturing these new batteries in the United States will help us build more EVs faster and will ultimately make them more affordable for our customers," said Ford Chairman Bill Ford during an event announcing the investment on Monday.

chengyu@chinadaily.com.cn