Today, the United States Department of Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, visited BlueOval SK Battery Park located in Glendale, Kentucky, to draw attention to job growth and workforce development.
This facility will house two new electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants, creating 5,000 new job opportunities in the state of Kentucky.
"When the facility is operational, it will be one of the world's most significant EV battery manufacturing plants," Secretary Buttigieg, while touring the 1,500-acre site, expressed. "The workers at the facility are not just constructing a factory but also building a prosperous future."
The Secretary also participated in a roundtable discussion with BlueOval SK, Ford, and state and local representatives. BlueOval SK CEO, Dr. Robert Rhee, shared his excitement about bringing numerous high-paying jobs to Kentucky and extending partnerships within the local community.
BlueOval SK is a partnership between Ford and SK On, aimed at producing advanced batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles. The joint venture has invested $11.4 billion to create 5,000 new high-tech jobs at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky and approximately 2,500 new jobs at BlueOval SK in Tennessee.
The battery plants at BlueOval SK Battery Park will have the capacity to manufacture 86 gigawatt hours yearly, and this will play a crucial role in Ford's plan to deliver two million electric vehicles globally by late 2026. The Secretary's visit highlights the transition to electric vehicles.
SK On has 20 years of experience in battery and safety technology leadership, while Ford boasts of a 119-year history of producing some of the world's favorite vehicles. Together, they are paving the way for a future powered by electricity.
Meanwhile, construction at BlueOval SK Battery Park is progressing on schedule, with production scheduled to commence in 2025.
