The automaker has long faced pushback over its plan to license Chinese battery technology at its multibillion plant in Michigan.

Ford has a licensing agreement to manufacture electric vehicle batteries with technology from a Chinese company that's under scrutiny at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon's running list of companies with ties to the Chinese military now includes CATL, an integral partner to some U.S. automakers.

But spokesman Mark Truby noted that the Marshall site will be a Ford-owned plant with Ford employees. In the past, Ford has said that it believes licensing the technology from CATL and manufacturing the batteries in Michigan will support a strong U.S. manufacturing base and is preferable to importing batteries from China.

While the designation currently imposes no direct sanctions, it does intend to warn US companies about potential security risks in collaborating with firms.

The world’s largest supplier of EV battery cells says it's "a mistake."

The Pentagon recently added Tesla’s battery suppliers, Contemporary Amperex Technology, and Tencent to its list of companies with ties to the Chinese military. While the designation has minimal direct business impact,