Samsung Electronics Shares Jump on HBM4 Mass Production Report 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision 
Anta Sports Expands Global Footprint With Strategic Puma Stake 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
FDA Targets Hims & Hers Over $49 Weight-Loss Pill, Raising Legal and Safety Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Kroger Set to Name Former Walmart Executive Greg Foran as Next CEO 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
SK On Co. Ltd. reportedly halted its production of electric vehicle batteries in the United States. The decision was made after Ford Motor stopped building its F-150 Lightning pickup truck due to battery issues.
It was learned that the battery used in the said pickup model was made by SK On and because of this, the quality of the EV batteries it produces is being questioned. Its parent company, SK Innovation, took a hit as its shares fell after the news.
According to The Korea Times, Ford Motor told various news outlets on Tuesday that it suspended production and shipments of its F-150 electric pickup last week. It cited a "possible battery problem" as the cause and shared this is currently under investigation.
Then again, the company said it has not suspended sales for units that were already delivered to the dealers. This means that dealers can continue to sell the pickups that are in their stores. As for the resumption of production of the trucks, Ford Motor said it is not yet certain when this would be.
The American automaker said it is not aware of any accidents or issues related to the possible battery issues. This latest notification was issued amid increasing concerns about the possible cancellation of SK On and Ford Motor's partnership where they agreed to create the BlueOval SK joint venture in the U.S.
Meanwhile, SK On released a short statement regarding the battery issue. Firstly, the company said it has intentions of retaining its cooperation with Ford Motor. It also said that its plant in Georgia that supplies EV batteries for F-150 pickups are still operating despite the automaker's move to stop the vehicle's production.
SK On's spokesperson also assures that it is looking into the battery case. "We are investigating the matter," he simply said.
