- Title: Ford opens two factories to make more F-Series electric trucks
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORD MOTOR, VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENT & SAFETY OFFICER, BOB HOLYCROSS, SAYING: "When this production gets going at the assembly plant in Tennessee in 2025, vision is for full carbon neutrality in a closed-loop ecosystem, as I mentioned. So paying attention to every last bit of energy that's used, zero waste to landfill, recycling of water, so that we're not using any freshwater withdrawals for manufacturing. This is truly an advanced manufacturing ecosystem designed with the environment in mind and around what we've already announced is our intention to be fully carbon neutral. So it's great for the customers, it's great for our people, and it's great for the planet."
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 19:59
- Keywords: Blue Oval City BlueOvalSK Battery Park F-150 auto production complex batteries electric F-Series electric zero-emission vehicles
- Location: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, + DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES, UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- City: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, + DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES, UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA002EWMY53B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ford Motor and its Korean battery partner SK Innovation will invest $11.4 billion to build an electric F-150 assembly plant and three battery plants in the United States, accelerating the U.S. automaker's push into electric vehicles.
Ford said on Tuesday (September 28) it now expects to have 40% to 50% of its global vehicle volume to be all-electric by 2030, up from its prior forecast of 40%.
The companies intend to create nearly 11,000 jobs by opening assembly and battery plants in Stanton, Tennessee, and two additional battery factories in Glendale, Kentucky, as part of Ford's previously announced plan to spend more than $30 billion through 2030 on electrification, Ford said.
Plants on both sites will open in 2025.
Monday's announcement is the single largest manufacturing investment in Ford's 118-year history.
The Tennessee assembly and battery complex will be about three times the size of Ford's sprawling, century-old Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, Michigan, with room to expand it.
The No.2 U.S. carmaker's portion of the investment is $7 billion, with SK covering the rest.
The companies will invest $5.8 billion in Kentucky, and $5.6 billion in Tennessee.
With its three additional battery factories and two battery plants in Georgia, SK Innovation is set to secure an annual capacity of about 150 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries in the United States.
Ford, which plans to launch the electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck next spring, has moved more aggressively to roll out its EV strategy under Jim Farley, who took over as chief executive last October.
Earlier this month, Ford doubled the planned production capacity in Dearborn, Michigan, for the F-150 Lightning to 80,000 annually due to strong pre-launch demand for the electric pickup.
(Production: Aleksandra Michalska) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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