Overview
- All 1,600 BlueOval SK workers in Glendale will be let go, with pay and benefits continuing for 60 days and eligibility to apply for roughly 2,100 new roles at the retooled plant.
- Ford will convert the site to produce battery‑energy storage systems for utilities, renewable developers, and large data centers, with shipments planned from Kentucky and Michigan in late 2027.
- The company expects a $19.5 billion hit to profit from the transition, as CEO Jim Farley says Ford is pivoting away from unprofitable large EV bets after planning too much capacity.
- The BlueOval SK joint venture has been dissolved, with Ford taking ownership of the Kentucky assets and SK On assuming a nearly completed Tennessee plant.
- Ford outlines an initial capacity ramp within 18 months, a target of at least 20 GWh annually by late 2027, and about $2 billion in investment over two years to scale the storage business.