Group 1 - Ford officially announced its entry into the energy storage market, marking a strategic shift for the century-old automaker [2] - The company plans to invest approximately $2 billion over the next two years in collaboration with CATL to transform and expand its existing battery production lines, aiming for an annual capacity of over 20GWh by 2027 [3][4] - The partnership with CATL involves a technology licensing model, allowing Ford to quickly gain access to advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology while avoiding certain regulatory restrictions [4] Group 2 - Ford's shift to energy storage is driven by the need to adapt to a challenging automotive market, with a specific focus on grid-level storage and backup power for data centers [6] - The U.S. energy storage market is projected to reach 40-50GWh in demand next year, with significant growth expected from data centers, potentially driving demand to 122-245GWh by 2030 [9] - The collaboration with CATL positions Ford to leverage established technology and brand trust, which is crucial for competing in a market that requires high safety, long lifespan, and cost efficiency in battery solutions [9]