methinks this is fallout from the strike....

Ford Motor Co. said it has stopped construction of its $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall.
"We're pausing work and limiting spending on construction on the Marshall project until we're confident about our ability to competitively operate the plant," Ford spokesperson T.R. Reid toldAutomotive Newson Monday. "We haven't made any final decision about the planned investment there."
The stoppage was first reported Monday by The Detroit News.Ford in February revealed plans for the site, which is to be known as BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. It was originally expected to open in 2026 as a wholly owned Ford subsidiary using technology from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., based in China.



It was not immediately clear what, if any, impact the pause would have on Ford's ability to source batteries for future EVs. Reid said the Dearborn-based automaker remained committed to being an EV leader.

The plant is slated to employ 2,500 workers and have the capacity to build 35 gigawatt-hours of lithium iron phosphate cells a year, which is enough to power about 400,000 EVs, Ford said. The automaker, which announced it would partner with CATL last July, said lithium iron phosphate chemistry will help it increase production of EVs and make them cheaper to build. Republican lawmakers later investigated the deal, scrutinizing issues around American jobs, technology-sharing and links to forced labor.

The Marshall plant was approved for $1.7 billion worth of incentives, including a $210 million Critical Industry Program grant to Ford, a Renaissance Zone tax exemption worth $772 million over 15 years, $630 million for MDOT and the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance, and $120 million for other site prep work.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/automo...plant-michigan