New York, May 20, 2026, 15:03 EDT
Ford Motor Co shares were up 1.8% at $13.30 late Wednesday, near session highs, with traders watching the carmaker’s battery-storage moves after a choppy stretch for the stock. The stock moved from $12.94 to $13.31 so far, with about 25.7 million shares changing hands.
Ford is pushing for a new investor pitch outside of its trucks, commercial vans and ongoing electric-vehicle revamp. Its Ford Energy unit now puts the carmaker into the business of supplying big batteries for U.S. power demand, especially data centers and AI. These buyers want batteries to hold power and feed it back to the grid during demand peaks.
Ford Energy and EDF power solutions North America on Monday announced a deal that lets EDF buy as much as 4 gigawatt hours a year of Ford Energy DC Block battery energy storage systems for five years. The agreement covers up to 20 GWh total, with first deliveries planned for 2028. These BESS units are big batteries used for storing power by utilities and large customers. One gigawatt hour is the amount needed to supply a gigawatt for an hour.
Stocks got a lift across the board. Major U.S. indexes traded up Wednesday as chip shares bounced back before Nvidia’s earnings. Cheaper oil and softer Treasury yields seemed to draw buyers, Reuters said. General Motors advanced 4.4%, with Tesla up 2.3%, which points to Ford’s move not being just about Ford.
Ford Energy president Lisa Drake said the EDF agreement points to Ford offering more than just hardware. The company is “trying to offer long-term operational confidence,” she said. EDF power solutions North America chief executive Tristan Grimbert put the focus on “supply chain reliability and product quality.” Q4 Financials
Ford’s European problems are in focus for investors. The automaker said this week it plans to launch seven new models in Europe by 2029, mixing small electric cars and SUVs that come in both hybrid and electric versions. Ford is aiming to claw back market share and hold off competition from Chinese names like BYD. “We need to stand out in a crowd,” Ford’s European president Jim Baumbick told Reuters. Reuters
Ford said Tuesday that Lisa Materazzo, its global chief marketing officer, is leaving June 1. Dean Stoneley will take over as interim CMO while the automaker looks for a new marketing chief. CEO Jim Farley called Stoneley someone with “a proven track record of global marketing leadership.” Q4 Financials
Ford is making its energy-storage move after turning in a solid first quarter. The automaker reported $43.3 billion in revenue, net income of $2.5 billion and adjusted EBIT at $3.5 billion. Adjusted EBIT, or earnings before interest and taxes with some items excluded, is Ford’s preferred operating profit measure. Ford lifted its full-year adjusted EBIT outlook to between $8.5 billion and $10.5 billion. “Path to higher margins is clear,” CFO Sherry House said. Q4 Financials
Ford’s risks are in focus. The F-150 pickup is still its main profit source, but fires at aluminum supplier Novelis have slowed production. JPMorgan’s Ryan Brinkman told Reuters he thinks Ford might be having a “more difficult time recovering from the Novelis fire” than many thought. Losses also persist at Model e, the EV unit. Reuters
Ford Energy is still being priced like a call on growth in the power sector, not as evidence Ford has cracked the bigger automotive cycle issues. Up next: more customer signings, sticking to the 2028 delivery target, and keeping enough cash from Ford Pro and Ford Blue to offset EV losses and fund the new energy push.
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