Ford Motor Co. is preparing to make its largest play yet into the world of electric vehicles (EVs).
The company's new assembly plant and battery plant in Stanton, Tennessee, and twin battery plants in Glendale, Kentucky — part of an $11.4 billion investment from Ford and SK Innovation announced in September — will be capable of churning out a fleet of new EVs starting in 2025. That's as demand for the sophisticated powertrains is already surging.
Recently, I spoke with Greg Christensen, electrical vehicle footprint director at Ford, about how the company is preparing to launch its new facilities here in Kentucky.
He told me Ford (NYSE: F) is already working with economic development officials here in the state. There's also an effort to influence workforce training and education, which I wrote about earlier this week.
The company is in the process of identifying suppliers that could be part of this project, he said. The batteries created at the Kentucky battery facility will not only power vehicles being produce at the new Tennessee plant but also support its entire electric fleet in North America.
"We will be working with a myriad of different suppliers on further battery opportunities, including vertical integration and the parts that go into batteries," he said.
He couldn't name any specific suppliers yet.
"Just as we have to add capacity for the cells, we have to add capacity for the materials that go into the cells," he said.
Battery cells consist of nickel, lithium...
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