Ford and General Motors pivot to defense and energy storage

Ford and General Motors are diversifying their operations into defense contracting and energy storage systems as traditional vehicle sales slow in the United States. Following requests from the US government to leverage domestic mass-production expertise, both companies are pursuing military vehicle programs. GM Defense has developed an Infantry Squad Vehicle based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 architecture, while Ford is utilizing its Ranger pickup line to bid on military projects.

Additionally, both automakers are pivoting toward the energy storage systems (ESS) market. Having invested billions in battery manufacturing capacity originally intended for electric vehicles, they are now repurposing these technologies to serve homes, data centers, and electrical grids. The global ESS market is projected to grow significantly, from approximately $668.7 billion in 2024 to an estimated $5.12 trillion by 2034.