Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn has resumed work on its BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall after a pause caused by the UAW strike. The battery facility, however, will be smaller than originally planned.
When announced in February, the plant was expected to employ 2,500 people and generate approximately 35 gigawatt hours per year of new battery capacity. The facilityβs revised outlook will employ 1,700 people and produce a planned capacity of approximately 20 GWh.
βWhile we remain bullish on our long-term strategy for electric vehicles, we are re-timing and resizing some investments,β Ford said in a statement. βWe are pleased to confirm we are moving ahead with the Marshall project, consistent with the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. However, we are right-sizing as we balance investment, growth, and profitability.β
Ford says it still expects BlueOval Battery Park Michigan to be the first of its battery plants of this kind when it begins producing LFP battery cells starting in 2026.
LFP batteries feature lithium iron (ferro) phosphate (LFP) chemistry. It will offer a second electric vehicle battery option to Ford customers.
In other Ford news, the Society of Plastics Engineers has granted a team at Ford its sustainability award for its redesign of the Ford Mustang Mach-E frunk insert.
A dedicated team simplified the frunk design and drastically increased post-consumer recycled content. Created from recycled packaging including and weighing the approximate equivalent of 115 post-consumer use yogurt cups, the frunk tub for the 2023 model year goes from six pieces to one, reduces the weight by over 6.6 pounds, and drastically cuts the part cost.
βWe are so proud of this team for seeking opportunities like this to deliver win-win solutions for the environment, customers, and Ford,β says Donna Dickson, chief program engineer for the Mustang Mach-E. βOur customers love the Mustang Mach-E and this action is a great example of how weβre not resting on our laurels, but working to make each aspect of the vehicle better every single day, whether thatβs new hardware like this change or over-the-air software updates.β