Ford's BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan Nears 2026 Completion

Ford Motor Company has received an extension until March 2028 to meet its investment and job creation commitments for its BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan, as it faces uncertainties in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The revised agreement allows Ford to start accessing a $141 million taxpayer-funded grant before creating the anticipated 1,700 jobs, but requires them to cover approximately $4.5 million in resizing costs first. Initially planned as a $3.5 billion investment aimed at producing batteries for Ford's electric vehicles, the budget has been scaled back to between $2.5 and $3 billion to reflect market conditions. The construction of the facility, covering two million square feet, began in mid-2023, with production expected to commence by early 2026. Meanwhile, Georgia is making strides in the EV sector with SK Innovation's new battery plant, projected to create over 2,600 jobs and enhance the state's role in the clean energy movement. This development underlines the ongoing evolution of the EV industry across the U.S., highlighting both challenges and opportunities.