Ford is leading the electric revolution in the automotive industry by building a new assembly plant in Tennessee called BlueOval City that will radically change how vehicles are made. The plant will produce an all-new, revolutionary electric truck, code-named Project T3, and advanced batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley said the plant would be a marvel of simplification and would create thousands of jobs.
BlueOval City is Ford's largest and most advanced auto production complex in its 119-year history. The nearly 6-square-mile mega campus will span across Haywood and Fayette counties, near Stanton, and will include a battery plant operated by SK On, Ford's joint venture with SK Innovation. The battery plant, called BlueOval SK, will be one of two battery plants that Ford and SK On are building in Kentucky, creating 11,000 new American jobs.
The Ford plant at BlueOval City will be suitable to build 500,000 electric trucks a year at full production starting in 2025. The plant will build the next-generation electric truck from Ford, which is expected to offer superior performance, range, and efficiency. The truck, which is currently under development, is part of Ford's plan to electrify its most iconic vehicles, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Explorer and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The plant will also use advanced technologies such as 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence to optimize the manufacturing process and enhance quality and safety. The plant will be designed to achieve a vision of carbon neutrality and zero waste to landfill once fully operational and to meet Ford's air emissions goals. The plant will also aspire to have 100% renewable energy and to reuse water.
BlueOval City is not only a manufacturing facility but also a community hub that will support local residents and businesses. Ford has invested $1 million to support non-profit organizations in West Tennessee and has launched an Idea Accelerator Program to fund entrepreneurship dreams in the area. Ford is also working with the University of Tennessee to restore the stream waters flowing through the University's Lone Oaks Farm and to expand STEM education for Tennessee students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
BlueOval City is a tribute to Ford's legacy of innovation and leadership in the auto industry. More than 100 years ago, Ford built a plant unlike any the world had ever seen: the Rouge factory. Vertically intermixed with its own power plant, steel mill, and glass factory, it was a jump forward that changed all the rules. Ford is undergoing another transformation as it ushers in a new clean, carbon-neutral manufacturing era. BlueOval City is the blueprint for Ford's future facilities and will help lead America's shift to electric vehicles.