[Auto] Ford studies the possibility of building its own batteries for electric vehicles

[FNX Magokiler]

As explained by the new CEO of the American company, this decision could not only make it possible to keep current jobs, but also generate new jobs.

If until a while ago the American Ford did not have among its plans to manufacture batteries for electric cars, today that possibility has taken on new air given the path that the world automotive industry has begun to travel towards more environmentally friendly technologies and a change in the direction of the company. In that context, the new CEO of the blue oval brand, Jim Farley, has not closed himself to such a possibility, pointing out that manufacturing all the components of its zero-emission vehicles would be a fairly solid way for Ford to create more jobs. or, at least, keep the jobs you currently hold.

In conversation with Reuters Automotive Summit, Farley spoke about the growth of the 100% electric vehicle market and the challenges that this new scenario implies. “We are talking about the manufacture of (battery) cells. I think that's natural as the volume increases "of these specimens, said the senior executive. Farley added that zero-emission vehicles have on average 40 percent fewer parts, and that means they are much easier to assemble. When these examples, he added, reach 25 or 50 percent of the industry in the next few years, it is necessary to know what they are going to do with the jobs that are no longer needed. Along these lines, he stated that instead of eliminating them they could be destined to the production of batteries for zero emission cars.

 

 

“The fact that an electric vehicle is less heavy than its internal combustion engine counterparts has been a major concern for auto workers who see the rising tide of electrification. It has been really difficult for most companies to reconcile the disparity between wanting to be electric and wanting to create more jobs, ”explained the executive. He added that in this line his predecessor, Jim Hackett (former CEO of Ford), was correct in stating that it was cheaper to acquire these power cells from a third party without having to make the large investments involved in developing and building factories for their building. However, this possibility means in the future eliminating hundreds of jobs with the social cost that this generates. Hence, the new CEO of Ford probes other ways to avoid having to make these drastic decisions in the near future when electric cars begin to dominate the world market. For now, the next models of the American brand will go on the market with battery cells from external suppliers, something that will remain until a final decision is made.