As Ford Authority reported yesterday, BlueOval SK – a joint-venture between Ford and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On – has been teasing a “big” announcement for days now, though it was entirely unclear what that news might pertain to. There were several possibilities, but what we do know is that the BlueOval SK Battery Park site in Kentucky was previously slated to being building EV batteries in Q1 2025. Now, that process is officially underway, and is exactly what this major announcement pertains to.
BlueOval SK has indeed announced that commercial production at the new plant is officially underway, as the very first battery built there just rolled off the assembly line. Those batteries will be used in the Ford F-150 Lightning, though other models will join it in the coming months and years as well. Over 1,450 workers at the plant are gathering to celebrate the launch, which has been in the works for years now.
“We are proud to build batteries at our Kentucky 1 facility that will power next-generation electric vehicles,” said BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams. “The start of production is a significant milestone that strengthens our position in the electric vehicle battery market. BlueOval SK is creating good-paying, American jobs in the heart of the Commonwealth. We are strengthening the domestic supply chain and driving the transition to zero-emissions transportation.”
“We are one team,” added BlueOval SK Kentucky 1 Plant Manager Mark Hayley. “Every person here played a vital role in reaching this point. I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication that have set BlueOval SK up for success.”
Due to a general slowdown in demand for EVs, a recent report claimed that Ford rival Nissan will utilize part of the BlueOval SK Battery Park site to build batteries for its own EVs starting in 2028, though none of the parties involved confirmed this report when asked to comment on the matter at that time.
Ford CEO Jim Farley also recently stated that the company is “looking to repurpose our unused battery plant assets,” which is notable given the fact that it will in fact have unused space in the BlueOval SK Battery Park site after downsizing its previous plans. Ford could opt to build batteries for energy storage purposes there as well, as Farley recently hinted at, which are in big demand these days. Meanwhile, workers at the plant itself are scheduled to hold a vote determining whether or not they’ll join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union on August 26th and 27th, too.
Comment
I have some friends working there, so glad to see they are finally underway into production. Despite the naysayers of doom, I am satisfied that in the long run this will turn out to be a wise and profitable venture for Ford.