Blue Oval City

Summary

BlueOval City is a planned automotive assembly complex near Stanton, Tennessee that will be operated by Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation. It is expected to be operational in 2025. The facility takes its name from Ford's logo. It will primarily consist of an automotive assembly plant to produce electric pickup trucks and a plant to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, as well as a battery recycling facility, suppliers, and a training center.[1][2]

BlueOval City
Map
OperatedEstimated 2025
LocationHaywood County near Stanton, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates35°25′N 89°25′W / 35.41°N 89.42°W / 35.41; -89.42
Products
Employees5,800 (estimated)
Area4,100 acres (1,700 ha)
Owner(s)Ford Motor Company

The project is expected to cost $5.6 billion, making it the most expensive single investment in Tennessee history. It will employ approximately 5,800 people when complete.[1][3]

History edit

The project was jointly announced by both companies on September 27, 2021.[1] A ceremony was held the following day at Shelby Farms in Memphis, providing further details of the project.[4] The facilities will be constructed at the 4,100-acre (1,700 ha) Memphis Regional Megasite, also known as the West Tennessee Megasite, which was designated as an industrial site in September 2009.[5]

The site is located in rural Haywood County near the town of Stanton, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Memphis. It is accessible from Interstate 40.[6] The state was initially expected to provide approximately $500 million worth of incentives that include infrastructure improvements, grants, and a new campus operated by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) to train workers for the plants.[7] The final cost ballooned to $884 million.[8]

In addition to BlueOval City, Ford and SK Innovation announced plans to construct twin battery plants in Glendale, Kentucky, called BlueOval SK.[9][10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Ford to invest $5.6 billion in Memphis-area Megasite to build electric vehicles and batteries". Memphis: WHBQ-TV. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Round, Ian; Dries, Bill; Moore, Rob (September 27, 2021). "Ford, SK Innovation to invest $5.6B in Memphis Regional Megasite". The Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Round, Ian; Dries, Bill; Moore, Rob (September 27, 2021). "Ford, SK Innovation to invest $5.6B in Memphis Regional Megasite". The Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Moore, Rob (September 28, 2021). "Governor, execs celebrate Megasite news". The Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Tennessee to funnel $52M more into Memphis megasite". Nashville: Associated Press. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Tennessee to funnel $52M more into Memphis megasite". Nashville: Associated Press. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Sainz, Adrian (September 28, 2021). "Gov. Lee: $500 million incentive package for Ford factory". Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Grzelewski, Jordyn (October 20, 2021). "Tennessee legislature OKs $884M incentive package for Ford project". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Grzelewski, Jordyn; Beggin, Riley (September 27, 2021). "Ford, partner to spend $11.4B on four new plants in Tennessee, Kentucky to support EVs". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Gregg, Aaron; Siddiqui, Faiz (September 28, 2021). "Ford building massive electric vehicle and battery plants with $11.4 billion investment". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.