Ford, State and BlueOval SK still committed to West Tennessee assembly site

“West Tennessee is a linchpin in our plan to create a strong and growing Ford in America. BlueOval City will be one of the most advanced manufacturing complexes anywhere in the world, and we are counting on the workforce in West Tennessee to produce advanced batteries starting next year, and then our most innovative pickup ever starting in 2027.””

Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company President and CEO

As Ford Motor Company looks to utilize lower-cost battery production and assesses the electric-vehicle market, construction continues at its production plant at the Memphis Regional Megasite in Stanton.

“West Tennessee is a linchpin in our plan to create a strong and growing Ford in America,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “BlueOval City will be one of the most advanced manufacturing complexes anywhere in the world, and we are counting on the workforce in West Tennessee to produce advanced batteries starting next year, and then our most innovative pickup ever starting in 2027.”

The first affordable vehicle off this new platform will be a mid-sized electric pickup launching in 2027 that is expected to cater to customers who want more for their money – more range, more utility, more useability.

In addition, today’s electric-vehicle consumers are more cost-conscious than early adopters, looking to electric vehicles as a practical way to save money on fuel and maintenance, as well as time by charging at home. This, coupled with scores of new electric vehicle choices hitting the market over the next 12 months and rising compliance requirements, has amplified pricing pressures, Ford representatives announced.

“An affordable electric vehicle starts with an affordable battery,” Farley said. “If you are not competitive on battery cost, you are not competitive.”

Ford is looking to employ an estimated 3,000 people at its assembly plant in BlueOval City. BlueOval SK, the battery-production and recycle center, will provide another estimated 3,000 jobs. Production at BlueOval SK is still on track to roll out in 2025, although Ford announced last week it will push back production of its Project T-3 truck to 2027 at the Stanton location. 

According to an announcement by the American auto manufacturer last week, BlueOval SK at BlueOval City in Tennessee will produce cells starting in late 2025 for Ford’s new electric commercial van to be built at Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant. Those same cells will be sourced to later power the next-generation electric truck to be assembled at BlueOval City and future emerging-technology electrified vehicles. This common-cell strategy gives Ford significant sourcing flexibility for manufacturing across multiple segments and electrified platforms as the market continues to evolve, a press release notes.

“We stand ready to respond to our customer’s needs and make adjustments to accommodate any fluctuations in the market. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our employees, our communities, and the production of next-generation batteries that will electrify the future of mobility. Construction continues on our facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee, and we remain on schedule to begin production in 2025. Our hiring will stay on pace to meet the demands of our customer,” Mallory Cooke, external communications for BlueOval SK, noted.

The announcement by Ford Motor Company, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Economic and Community Development in September 2021 is the single-largest investment by a company in the state at $5.6 billion.

Ford announced its partnership with SK On to produce an electric truck line, components and its batteries at the West Tennessee-Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County. It is also one of the largest battery and vehicle-manufacturing campuses in the United States and one of the largest investments by Ford Motor Company.

Dubbed as BlueOval City, the 6.6-square-mile plot of land is home to Ford’s manufacturing facility and BlueOval SK (the electric battery recycle and production facility), both under construction as part of the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. 

“Construction continues at BlueOval City, where we are excited to launch our next-generation electric truck, which will build on Ford’s century-long heritage of truck leadership,” said Lisa Drake, Ford vice president, EV Programs and Energy Supply Chain. “While we incorporate new lower-cost battery technology, we will use the extra time to make the truck even more competitive – for the long-term benefit of BlueOval City and beyond.”

Ford plans to develop local talent for jobs at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center through its BlueOval Learning initiative.

Training will be comprehensive, with online, classroom and hands-on segments designed to prepare employees to operate, maintain and troubleshoot equipment in their areas. In addition, the state allotted $60 million for the construction of a Tennessee College of Applied Technology campus at BlueOval City. The 120,000-square-foot facility will offer courses related to automotive and electric-vehicle technology beginning this fall. Dyersburg State Community College is a partner on the TCAT-Stanton campus, offering general education courses. More details about TCAT-Stanton can be found in the related article, ‘TCAT-Stanton prepared for fall semester.’

To prepare West Tennessee communities for growth from BlueOval City, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has spent the last few years providing monthly virtual sessions in a number of subjects. Stakeholders are being offered transportation and population studies, in addition to infrastructure-needs assessments through TNEDC and its partner organizations.

“We understand Ford’s decision to delay the launch of Project T3 but have been reassured of their long-term commitment to BlueOval City. The company has made it clear since their announcement to invest in Tennessee in 2021, that they will be a long-term partner to the citizens of Tennessee. Governor Lee, TNECD and our statewide partners remain aligned in ensuring that Tennesseans are prepared, ready and able to fill the high-quality jobs that Ford has committed to create in our state. In the meantime, today’s news will allow our communities additional time to better plan and prepare for the generational impact Ford’s investment will have on Tennessee,” TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter shared last week.

Ford formed the Equitable Growth Advisory Council in 2023, bringing together community leaders from across West Tennessee. The council is developing a comprehensive Good Neighbor Plan with investment priorities driven by resident feedback.

“Ford and Ford Philanthropy are stepping up our community initiatives because we want residents in every community neighboring BlueOval City to benefit as the campus comes to life. I look forward to introducing our Good Neighbor Plan, developed with the help of resident input and the community leaders who make up our Equitable Growth Advisory Council,” said Gabby Bruno, Ford’s community relations director.

Ford and Ford Philanthropy announced they have spent more than 1,000 hours listening to community input and learning about local priorities.

Donations from Ford and Ford Philanthropy total $21 million so far in West Tennessee, including $1.2 million in capital grants. 

Ford will provide an update on its electrification, technology, profitability and capital requirements in the first half of 2025.

Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net