Ford and SK On split, Ford to take sole control of Kentucky battery plants

Ford Motor Company and South Korean SK On have dissolved a partnership that was the basis for building two electric vehicle battery plants in Hardin County, Kentucky.

According to the Wall Street Journal and WAVE 3 News out of Louisville, Ford will take full operation of the plants near Glendale, while SK On will take the Blue Oval City facility in west Tennessee. While vehicle batteries will remain the focus in Kentucky, the Tennessee plant would likely transition toward energy storage.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, "The news is that Ford will be taking over all Kentucky operations, and we are in communication with leadership to understand this announcement and the direction the company intends to take. I remain optimistic on the future of these facilities."

The Governor indicated that more information from Ford would be coming next week.

The projects were announced in 2021, with Kentucky offering a large loan and incentive package. A specialized training center is under construction at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, as well. The divorce should be finalized by sometime early next year.

The first batteries came off the line at Glendale in August. Ford recently announced a reinvestment in the Louisville Assembly plant, refitting it to produce a series of electric vehicles that would share a common platform.