Ford Motor Company has announced plans to build a new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Michigan, with an investment of $3.5 billion.
This plant will be Ford’s largest manufacturing facility in the US, and will create around 10,800 jobs in the state.
The Michigan EV battery plant will produce batteries for a range of Ford’s electric vehicles, including the upcoming F-150 Lightning pickup truck, as well as other EVs in the company’s pipeline. The facility will have an annual capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells, which is enough to power around 1 million electric vehicles per year.
The announcement comes after Virginia’s governor rejected Ford’s proposal to build the same plant in his state. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership had submitted a proposal to Ford for the plant, but Governor Ralph Northam rejected it because the proposal did not meet the state’s economic development priorities.
Ford then turned to Michigan for the new plant, where the company already has a strong manufacturing presence. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has praised the move, saying it will help create thousands of new jobs and further solidify Michigan’s position as a leader in the automotive industry.
The move also aligns with President Biden’s efforts to support domestic manufacturing and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. In a statement, President Biden said, “This is a major investment in America’s future and a key part of my Build Back Better agenda.”
The Michigan EV battery plant will be built on a 640-acre site in Stanton, Michigan, and is expected to begin production in 2025. The facility will use sustainable manufacturing processes and will be powered by renewable energy sources, including wind and solar.
The announcement of the new EV battery plant is part of Ford’s broader strategy to invest heavily in electric vehicles and reduce its carbon footprint. The company has committed to investing $22 billion in EVs through 2025, and plans to have 40% of its global vehicle sales be electric by 2030.
In addition to the F-150 Lightning, Ford has also announced plans to release an electric version of its popular Transit van, as well as an electric version of the Mustang. The company is also partnering with Volkswagen to develop EV platforms and technologies.
Overall, Ford’s decision to build its new EV battery plant in Michigan is a significant investment in the future of the automotive industry and the transition to electric vehicles. The move also highlights the importance of state and federal policies in supporting domestic manufacturing and accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies.