Ford Car Talk

In hot pursuit of electric car race, Ford announced its strategic alliance with Magna International, an automotive supplier in Canada, at the 2009North American International Show in Detroit. Together, they are creating a series of electrically propelled vehicles using lithium-ion battery packs.

By 2012, Ford plans to produce battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrids and hybrid electrical vehicles. All the BEV electric traction motor, energy storage system, transmission, motor controller, battery charger and other related systems will come from Magna. Ford stressed that its decision to choose Magna as its partner is based on their presumption that they will be able to produce first-class products with Magna’s help.

While Magna has been building European cars for years, this will be the first time that it will be engaging in the final assembly for an American carmaker on a contract basis.

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