Ford initiates on-site battery cell production at BlueOvalSK facility in Kentucky

Ford Motor Company has announced a significant move towards electric vehicle (EV) production, unveiling a new Universal EV Platform and Universal EV Production System. The ambitious project, which involves a total investment of $5 billion across two US sites, aims to streamline EV production and boost domestic manufacturing.

The new platform and production system will be implemented at Ford's Blue Oval City in Tennessee and the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale. The Blue Oval City project, located in Tennessee, will house a BlueOvalSK battery plant, an assembly line for electric F-Series pickup trucks, key suppliers, and recycling facilities.

In a separate project, the BlueOvalSK mega-campus in Stanton, Tennessee, is under construction with a $5.6 billion investment. This mega-campus, named Blue Oval City, is a separate project from the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale.

Ford's electric vehicles, such as the F-150 Lightning pickup trucks and E-Transit vans, are currently being produced at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, and the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, respectively. These vehicles use NMC batteries.

However, sales of the F-150 Lightning and E-Transit have seen a decline in recent months. Sales of the F-150 Lightning were down 14% in July and down 17% for the first half of 2025. Sales of the E-Transit, meanwhile, were down by 40% in July and 34% for the first half of the year.

The federal EV tax credit for EV purchases is set to end in September under the Trump administration. No information has been provided about any potential changes in this regard.

Ford and Korean battery maker SK On formed a joint venture named BlueOvalSK in 2022. In addition to providing batteries for Ford's EVs, Ford plans to provide its own batteries for sale in the future, including for the energy storage sector. This will be achieved through investments in local production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells at its BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan and a factory in Kentucky.

The Kentucky site houses two battery plants, but production at the second plant has been delayed until 2027. No specific date for the start of production at the Blue Oval City battery plant or the electric F-Series pickup trucks has been mentioned.

Michael Adams, CEO of BlueOvalSK, stated that the start of production is a significant milestone that strengthens their position in the electric vehicle battery market. Ford is also seeking customers beyond Ford for its batteries, including in the energy storage sector.

The implementation of the new platform and production system, along with the construction of Blue Oval City, marks a significant step forward in Ford's commitment to electric vehicles and domestic manufacturing. As more details about the production timeline and the start of production become available, we will keep you updated.

Ford initiates on-site battery cell production at BlueOvalSK facility in Kentucky