Ford announced Monday it will repurpose its battery manufacturing plant in Glendale.
BlueOVAL SK is expected to layoff roughly 1,600 workers.
The facility will now focus on producing advanced battery energy storage systems for data centers, utilities and large industrial customers. Ford plans to bring this new capacity online within 18 months.
The announcement comes as South Korean battery maker SK On and Ford Motor Company dissolve their partnership. Ford will take full ownership of BlueOval SK in Hardin County as demand for electric vehicles slows worldwide.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Ford will take the two Kentucky plants, while SK On will pivot its Tennessee plant and reevaluate what is produced there. The split is expected to be finalized by the end of the first quarter.
Workers who are laid off will have the opportunity to apply for positions with the new Ford subsidiary that will operate the Glendale facility. The new energy storage business in Kentucky is expected to start with 2,100 employees.
This represents about 400 fewer jobs than were originally anticipated for just one of the two Glendale facilities. Combined, the state’s BlueOval SK facilities were expected to employ 5,000 people.
Source: WBKO
You must be logged in to post a comment.