SEOUL, SK On, the battery unit of South Korea’s SK Group, announced that its 50:50 joint venture with Ford Motor Co. has started commercial production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries at its first plant in Kentucky.
The venture, named BlueOval SK, was established in July 2022 with a planned investment of 16 trillion won (US$11.4 billion) to build three battery plants in the U.S. — two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee.
Batteries produced at the Kentucky 1 facility will power Ford’s all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup and extended-range E-Transit cargo van, the company said in a statement.
“The start of production marks a major milestone that strengthens our competitiveness in the EV battery market,” said BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams, adding that the project is creating high-quality U.S. jobs, reinforcing the domestic supply chain, and accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles. The Tennessee plant is scheduled to begin operations next year, while the opening date for Kentucky 2 has not yet been finalized.
SK On is also expanding its U.S. footprint amid higher import tariffs. In addition to Kentucky 1, it runs two plants in Georgia and is building another there with Hyundai Motor Group, targeted to start production in 2026. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., which operate assembly plants in Georgia and near Atlanta, currently source batteries from SK On’s Georgia facilities.
