Ford Motor Company announced its plans for two new massive campuses in Tennessee and Kentucky. These will produce the next generation of electric F-Series trucks and the batteries to power future electric Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Called Blue Oval City, the complex will be constructed on a nearly 6-square-mile site in west Tennessee. Ford is partnering with SK Innovation.
Ford plans to invest $11.4 billion and create nearly 11,000 new jobs in the Tennessee and Kentucky mega-sites.
Blue Oval City will have an ecosystem for Ford to assemble electric F-Series vehicles. It will also include a BlueOvalSK battery plant, key suppliers, and recycling. The assembly plant is designed to be carbon neutral with zero waste to landfill once fully operational.
In central Kentucky, Ford plans to build a dedicated battery manufacturing complex with SK Innovation with an investment of $5.8 billion and is expected to create 5,000 jobs. Twin battery plants on the site are intended to supply Ford’s North American assembly plants with locally assembled batteries for powering next-generation electric Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Investments in the new Tennessee and Kentucky battery plants are planned to be made via BlueOvalSK, a new joint venture to be formed by Ford and SK Innovation, subject to definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, and other conditions.
Production of the new electric vehicles and advanced lithium-ion batteries will begin in 2025
This news comes amid growing demand for Ford F-150 Lightning truck, E-Transit, and Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles Ford president and CEO said “This is our moment – our biggest investment ever – to help build a better future for America. We are moving now to deliver breakthrough electric vehicles for the many rather than the few. It’s about creating good jobs that support American families, an ultra-efficient, carbon-neutral manufacturing system, and a growing business that delivers value for communities, dealers, and shareholders.”
Source: Ford
