Blueoval SK LLC, the electric vehicle (EV) battery joint venture between South Korea’s SK On Company and Ford Motor Company, launched production at its newly-built plant in the US state of Kentucky, marking the start of commercial operations for the company.
The 50:50 joint venture was established in July 2022, with plans to invest US$ 11.4 billion in three EV battery plants in the US, including two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee.
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Blueoval SK began construction of its first Kentucky plant, in Glendale, at the end of 2022. Commercial operations began in August 2025, with production of batteries for the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck and the extended-range E-Transit cargo van.
Commercial production at the joint venture’s Tennessee facility is scheduled to commence in 2026, while the start-up date for the second Kentucky plant has yet to be decided, depending on demand.
BlueOval SK’s CEO, Michael Adams, said in a statement: “The start of production is a significant milestone that strengthens our position in the EV battery market. BlueOval SK is creating good-paying American jobs, strengthening the domestic supply chain, and driving the transition to zero-emissions transportation.”
SK On also has two wholly-owned plants in the US state of Georgia, with another plant – a joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group – also scheduled to go into production in 2026.
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By GlobalData
