Gov. Glenn Youngkin ‘s (R-VA) decision that Virginia will not compete for a planned Ford-owned battery factory due to the legacy automaker’s business relationship with a Chinese battery giant drew a clear political line in the sand at a time when states are aggressively competing for new manufacturing jobs no matter the developer’s national origin.
The resolution not to lure Ford with generous incentives came as the Biden administration and vehicle makers work to increase quickly the manufacture of batteries domestically to supply the growing electric vehicle market and to make the most of clean vehicle tax credits Democrats authorized with the Inflation Reduction Act.
It also reflects the increasing hawkishness within the GOP toward China, a country with a near-monopoly on the manufacture of key technologies such as batteries, solar panels, and other components
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