Ford pauses work on $3.5B Michigan battery plant amid UAW talks, competitiveness concerns

Ford has halted construction on a $3.5B battery plant in Michigan due to competitiveness concerns.
The United Auto Workers union has criticized Ford's decision as a threat to jobs.
Republicans raised national security concerns over Ford's partnership with Chinese battery maker CATL.
Ford hopes to produce 2 million EVs per year by 2026 but has struggled with vehicle quality issues.
It's unclear if Ford will ultimately go forward with the battery plant, which was announced in February.