have held financial stakes in CATL, according to a New York Times review. The Chinese government has also taken strategic steps over the last decade to bolster CATL and other electric vehicle industry companies based in China.
In addition, Zeng Yuqun, who founded CATL in 2012 and remains its top executive, was identified last year as a member of the National Committee. According to a U.S. government report published in 2018, the CPPCC is a "critical coordinating body" that brings together representatives of Chinese interest groups and is led by the CCP’s Politburo Standing Committee.In April, Smith led a letter to Ford with concerns about the project.