The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. AFP
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. AFP
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. AFP
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. AFP

Ford breaks ground on $5.6bn electric-vehicle plant


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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

  • VinFast's pre-production VF 8 car at an event in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National
    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
    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 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 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 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 VinFast VF 8 has room for the whole family. Photo: VinFast
  • The exterior of the VinFast VF 8. 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
    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
    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
    Test drivers gave the VinFast VF 8 two thumbs up. VinFast
  • The VinFast manufacturing centre in Haiphong, Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National
    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
    Workers assemble an electric car at the VinFast electric car plant in Haiphong, Vietnam. AFP
  • VinFast's factory in Haiphong, Vietnam. Reuters
    VinFast's factory in Haiphong, Vietnam. Reuters
  • A worker assembles an electric car battery. AFP
    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
    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 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 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
    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
    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
    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
    VinFast revealed its full line-up of electric vehicles at CES 2022. AP
  • The VF 5 electric SUV on display at CES 2022. Reuters
    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
    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
    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
    Assembling scooters at the VinFast factrory. Holly Aguirre / The National
  • VinFast electric scooters in Haiphong, Vietnam. 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
    Scooters are a big part of culture in Vietnam. Holly Aguirre / The National
  • A VinFast vehicle outside the factory in Haiphong. Reuters
    A VinFast vehicle outside the factory in Haiphong. Reuters
  • Outside VinFast's factory in Haiphong. Reuters
    Outside VinFast's factory in Haiphong. Reuters
Match info:

Burnley 0

Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')

Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)

Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

Ahmed Raza

UAE cricket captain

Age: 31

Born: Sharjah

Role: Left-arm spinner

One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95

T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

 

 

Her most famous song

Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?

Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.

Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

MATCH INFO

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel

RACE CARD

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Updated: September 23, 2022, 2:47 PM