Ford Motor Company began construction on its $5.6 billion electric-vehicle plant in the US state of Tennessee, its most advanced auto complex in the manufacturer's 119-year history.
The 15.5 square-kilometre complex, called BlueOval City, is expected to employ 6,000 workers by 2025 when production begins. The western Tennessee site will be used to produce a “revolutionary all-new electric truck” and batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
Ford currently offers three EV models: the Mustang Mach-E crossover, F-150 Lightning pickup and E-Transit commercial van.
The company with headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan said the state-of-the-art complex would help it achieve its goal of a 2 million electric-vehicle production run rate worldwide by 2026.
“This facility is the blueprint for Ford’s future manufacturing facilities and will enable Ford to help lead America’s shift to electric vehicles,” said Eric Grubb, Ford’s director of new footprint construction.
Ford said it has already laid 370,000 tonnes of stone and installed more than 4,600 deep foundations at the site.
“Ford’s historic investment in west Tennessee is a testament to our state’s strong business climate and unmatched workforce,” governor Bill Lee said in a statement.
The car maker has already teamed up with South Korean battery manufacturer SK innovation to build two battery factories in Kentucky that will employ an additional 5,000 workers. Ford committed to spending $50 billion on electric vehicles through 2026 and chief executive Jim Farley said he expected more than half of the group's sales to be battery-powered vehicles by 2030.
Ford's battery-powered plans are part of an effort to challenge Elon Musk's Tesla in the electric-vehicle market. Tesla dominated electric-vehicle sales in 2021, where the total number of EVs sold in the US increased by 83 per cent in 2020.
Tesla sold roughly 193,000 Model Y vehicles and 108,000 Model 3 vehicles last year, automotive news outlet The Detroit Bureau tallied. The Ford Mustang Mach-E came in a distant third at 27,140 vehicles.
Vietnam's richest man, his new electric vehicle - and a radical new way to charge for cars
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VinFast's pre-production VF 8 car at an event in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National -
VinFast chief executive Le Thi Thu Thuy, left, speaks to VinGroup founder and chairman Pham Nhat Vuong at a company event in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Reuters -
The VinFast VF 8 has options that feature leather interiors with room for five passengers. Holly Aguirre / The National -
The interior of the VinFast VF 8. Holly Aguirre / The National -
The VinFast VF 8 is expected to take a bite out of the US electric vehicle market. Holly Aguirre / The National -
The VinFast VF 8 has room for the whole family. Photo: VinFast -
The exterior of the VinFast VF 8. Photo: VinFast -
The VF 8 will start at $40,700, making it quite competitive in the US electric vehicle market. Holly Aguirre / The National -
VinFast accounts for 8.4 per cent of the Vietnamese car market, with plans to go all-electric. Holly Aguirre / The National -
Test drivers gave the VinFast VF 8 two thumbs up. VinFast -
The VinFast manufacturing centre in Haiphong, Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National -
Workers assemble an electric car at the VinFast electric car plant in Haiphong, Vietnam. AFP -
VinFast's factory in Haiphong, Vietnam. Reuters -
A worker assembles an electric car battery. AFP -
VinFast chief executive Le Thi Thu Thuy speaks to visitors during a tour of the company's factory, in Haiphong. Reuters -
The VinFast VF 9 on display at the New York International Auto Show earlier this year. Getty Images / AFP -
The VinFast booth at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. Reuters -
The VinFast VF 9 on display at the New York International Auto Show. Getty Images / AFP -
Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnam's ambassador to the US, Gina Raimondo, US Commerce Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, US Energy Secretary, Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chair and VinFast chief executive and US Representative David Price attend VinFast's presentation at the US Department of Energy in March. AP -
The VinFast VF 9 electric vehicle at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Getty Images / AFP -
VinFast revealed its full line-up of electric vehicles at CES 2022. AP -
The VF 5 electric SUV on display at CES 2022. Reuters -
VinFast also makes electric scooters at the plant in Haiphong. Holly Aguirre / The National -
Scooters are a large part of Vietnam culture and VinFast plans to soon be all-electric. Holly Aguirre / The National -
Assembling scooters at the VinFast factrory. Holly Aguirre / The National -
VinFast electric scooters in Haiphong, Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National -
Scooters are a big part of culture in Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National -
A VinFast vehicle outside the factory in Haiphong. Reuters -
Outside VinFast's factory in Haiphong. Reuters
