In a recent announcement, SK On revealed that a road adjacent to its American subsidiary, SK Battery America (SKBA), located in Commerce City, Jackson County, Georgia, has been officially renamed as SK Boulevard (SK Blvd.).
To mark this occasion, a signboard-hanging ceremony was held at SKBA's Georgia plant on the 19th (local time), attended by notable figures including Clark Hill, Mayor of City of Commerce, Jim Shaw, President/CEO of Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, officials from SKBA, and other prominent members of the local community.
During the ceremony, Mayor Clark Hill stated, "On behalf of the City of Commerce and Jackson County, I present this sign to officially rename the section of the Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway to SK Boulevard."
The new road name, SK Boulevard (SK Blvd.), has already been registered in map applications, 911 service, and postal service as of July 1. Over the next year, it will be used alongside the previous name, Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway. The decision to change the road's name was taken by Jackson County as a gesture of appreciation for SKBA's contributions to the local community, particularly for providing quality job opportunities.
Not only the road, but the name of the entire industrial complex housing SKBA will also undergo a change, from Commerce 85 Industrial Parkway to SK Battery Park (tentative name). Signage reflecting this alteration will be installed at the Highway 85 exit leading to SKBA later in the year.
SKBA was established as a subsidiary of SK Innovation before the formal establishment of SK On. Its primary goal was to establish a production base in the US market and take a leading position in the global electric vehicle industry.
Since then, SK On has invested a total of USD 2.6 billion (approximately KRW 3 trillion) through SKBA and currently operates battery factories independently. The first plant (9.8GWh) has been operational since the first quarter of the previous year, while the second plant (11.7GWh) commenced operations at the end of the previous year. These batteries will be incorporated into various electric vehicle models, including the popular US pickup truck, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Volkswagen's ID.4.
Furthermore, SK On has successfully fulfilled its promise to Georgia by rapidly hiring 2,600 employees for SKBA, two years ahead of the initial target date, which was originally set for completion in 2024. In light of this achievement, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp expressed his gratitude, stating, "Georgia's hardworking citizens are reaping the benefits of this resolution as the state continues its unprecedented growth. SK On has even exceeded its employment goal by hiring a total of 3,000 individuals."
With SK On's active investments in the US, SK Group has earned recognition as one of Time magazine's top 100 companies, making it the sole domestic company to be featured on the list for its battery business. Time magazine praised SK Group's significant bet on American-made electric vehicle batteries, emphasizing its potential contribution to reducing the US's dependency on China and fostering the establishment of a battery belt in the southern region of the country.
Additionally, SK On's substantial investments are positively impacting the expansion of key domestic partner companies. By incorporating more than 90% of locally manufactured equipment into its factory, SKBA has experienced remarkable growth in the domestic market, further reinforcing its presence in countries with well-established car manufacturers.
“The proactive support policies of the Government of Georgia played a vital role in SK On’s decision to choose Georgia as the North American battery production hub,” said an official from SK On. “Our objective is to create job opportunities for everyone and establish ourselves as a leading global battery company, fostering mutual growth with the local communities.”
