SK Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won says, “We will be manufacturing the safest and the most reliable batteries in the world”
SK On, a leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, announced on Dec. 6 that its joint venture (JV) with Ford Motor held a groundbreaking ceremony for an EV battery manufacturing mega campus in the United States as it embarks on steps to expand leadership in the global EV market.
On Dec 5 (EST), BlueOval SK hosted the groundbreaking of BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky, where some 400 state, community, business leaders and residents gathered to celebrate the official commencement of construction on the dedicated EV battery manufacturing complex.
SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, SK On President Jee Dong-seob and BlueOval SK CEO David Hahm, Ford Workforce Development Director Liliana Ramirez and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear were among the attendees at the event. The major guests also took a part in a beam signing ceremony to commemorate the construction.
“Right here in Kentucky, Ford and SK are joining forces to lead the future of the EV industry,” SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey said. “We will be manufacturing the safest and the most reliable batteries in the world. Over the next two years, BlueOval SK will build the biggest and most advanced plants for EV batteries, and Kentucky will become a vital center for the future of clean mobility.”
“Ford’s roots run deep in Kentucky, and BlueOval SK is going to help Ford to lead the EV revolution, bringing thousands of new, high-tech jobs to the Bluegrass State,” said Lisa Drake, vice president, Ford EV Industrialization.
“As both the largest economic development project in our state’s history and part of the biggest investment ever by Ford, this project cements Kentucky’s status as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
BlueOval SK was officially established in July after SK On, which boasts the world’s top class battery technology capabilities, and major American automaker Ford, which has a long, rich history of 120 years of manufacturing cars, decided to join hands to spearhead the global EV industry.
SK On and Ford announced in September 2021 that they will invest $11.4 billion to build two new massive and technologically advanced campuses in Kentucky and Tennessee with three battery plants to be made and operated via BlueOval SK.
“BlueOval SK Battery Park will be at the core of the electrification of the North American auto market,” SK On President Jee Dong-seob said. “We expect SK On and Ford’s leadership in the global electric vehicle market to be solidified through BlueOval SK.
SK On and Ford aim to create about 11,000 jobs through the mega campuses in Kentucky and Tennessee.