Since FoMoCo picked Marshall as the location for the new Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan site, the actual process of securing funding for the new EV battery plant has been ongoing, as well as all of the necessary regulatory and legal approvals for such a project. This was no small feat, given the fact that Ford Blue Oval Battery Park Michigan has faced its fair share of detractors as it aims to license lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology from China-based company CATL with an eye toward starting production in 2026. Regardless, site prep for BlueOval Battery Park Michigan officially got underway last week, and now, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed off on the final spending bills that will support its creation, according to the Detroit Free Press.
These two bills – House Bill 4054and Senate Bill 97 – clarify the tax credits that Ford will use to purchase the equipment it utilizes in its manufacturing operations at the new site, allowing a provision for materials such as sand and gravel, along with others commonly used in industrial construction. This clarification allows the automaker to take advantage of a personal property tax exemption from the state’s sales and use taxes. Ultimately, Michigan expects this change to cost it less than $1 million.
Ford will receiving roughly $630 million from the state of Michigan in total to aid in its efforts to erect the BlueOval Battery Park site in Marshall, which is expected to employ 2,500 people when production begins in a few years. Additionally, Whitmer noted that the new plant will also have a broader economic impact, helping to fund local schools and even reduce taxes for businesses in the area.
“Let’s keep working together to lower costs, help schools better serve their students, and ensure Michiganders have greater access to information that impacts their bills,” Whitmer said in a statement.
We’ll have more on the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan complex soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comment
Ford in bed with China! Sad news for the American people. I feel they could have found a better partner for this venture, perhaps even an American partner. And don’t forget taxpayer dollars will be spent on this venture, supporting a China company. SO SAD!