The facility, which is capable of producing up to 86GWh per year of batteries, is expected to commence production in Q1 2025

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BlueOval SK begins construction on the BlueOval SK Battery Park. (Credit: The Ford Motor Company)

BlueOval SK, a joint venture (JV) of Ford Motor and SK On, has broken ground on its $5.8bn electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing complex dubbed BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky, US.

The battery manufacturing complex located in Glendale will have twin battery plants to produce batteries to be used in the next-generation electric Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

The facility, which is capable of producing up to 86GWh per year of batteries, is expected to commence production in Q1 2025 after trial runs. Each of the manufacturing plants will have a production capacity of 43GWh annually.

With groundwork and steel erection in progress, the 1,500-acre complex is expected to bring Ford closer to its goal of producing two million EVs per year globally by the end of 2026.

Ford EV industrialisation vice president Lisa Drake said: “Ford’s roots run deep in Kentucky, and BlueOval SK is going to help Ford to lead the EV revolution, bringing thousands of new, high-tech jobs to the Bluegrass State.

“Ford is building on more than a century of investment in Kentucky and its incredible workforce.”

In September 2021, an announcement was made by Ford Motor and SK Innovation that BlueOval SK will invest $11.4bn in the US to develop two technologically advanced campuses in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky for the production of new EVs and advanced lithium-ion batteries.

In Tennessee, the JV’s $5.6bn mega campus called BlueOval City is also expected to break ground within this year and commence production in 2025.

The 3600-acre site will include a 43GWh battery plant as well as Ford’s EV assembly factory and supplier facilities.