Blue Oval City

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BlueOval City
OperatedEstimated 2025
LocationHaywood County near Stanton, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates35°25′N 89°25′W / 35.41°N 89.42°W / 35.41; -89.42
Employees5,800 (estimated)
Area4,100 acres (1,700 ha)
OwnersFord Motor Company
SK Innovation

BlueOval City is a cancelled project that was planned to have been an automotive assembly complex near Stanton, Tennessee operated by Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation. It was originally intended to be operational in 2025. The facility took its name from Ford's logo. Intended to manufacture a next-generation electric pickup truck and associated batteries, Ford now plans instead to build just gas-powered pickup trucks in the renamed plant. The auto manufacturer plans to begin producing gas-powered truck models at its renamed Tennessee Truck Plant in 2029.[1]

Photo is of a large scale manufacturing facility under construction, captured from above with aerial photography. There are many cranes, heavy equipment, materials, and other machinery surrounding the tall plain walls of the main facility.
Aerial Photo of BlueOval City

The project is expected to cost $5.6 billion, making it the most expensive single investment in Tennessee history. It will employ approximately 5,800 people when completed.[2][3]

History

The project was jointly announced by both companies on September 27, 2021.[2] A ceremony was held the following day at Shelby Farms in Memphis, providing further details of the project.[4] The facilities will be constructed at the 4,100-acre (1,700 ha) Memphis Regional Megasite, also known as the West Tennessee Megasite, which was designated as an industrial site in September 2009.[5]

It is accessible from Interstate 40.[6] The state was initially expected to provide approximately $500 million worth of incentives that include infrastructure improvements, grants, and a new campus operated by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) to train workers for the plants.[7] The final cost ballooned to $884 million.[8]

In addition to BlueOval City, Ford and SK Innovation announced plans to construct twin battery plants in Glendale, Kentucky, called BlueOval SK Battery Park.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. Cassandra Stephenson and Sam Stockard. Ford scraps plans for electric pickup at BlueOval City, turns to gas-powered truck models. The Tennessee Lookout, December 16, 2025.
  2. "Ford to invest $5.6 billion in Memphis-area Megasite to build electric vehicles and batteries". Memphis: WHBQ-TV. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  3. Round, Ian; Dries, Bill; Moore, Rob (September 27, 2021). "Ford, SK Innovation to invest $5.6B in Memphis Regional Megasite". The Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. Moore, Rob (September 28, 2021). "Governor, execs celebrate Megasite news". The Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  5. "Tennessee to funnel $52M more into Memphis megasite". Nashville: Associated Press. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  6. "Tennessee to funnel $52M more into Memphis megasite". Nashville: Associated Press. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  7. Sainz, Adrian (September 28, 2021). "Gov. Lee: $500 million incentive package for Ford factory". Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  8. Grzelewski, Jordyn (October 20, 2021). "Tennessee legislature OKs $884M incentive package for Ford project". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. Grzelewski, Jordyn; Beggin, Riley (September 27, 2021). "Ford, partner to spend $11.4B on four new plants in Tennessee, Kentucky to support EVs". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. Gregg, Aaron; Siddiqui, Faiz (September 28, 2021). "Ford building massive electric vehicle and battery plants with $11.4 billion investment". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.