Image Credit: Ford at BlueOval City / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Ford Motor Company has decided to delay starting production of electric vehicle batteries until 2027 at their new plant in Stanton, Tennessee, near Memphis.
The same West Tennessee plant, a part of the BlueOval City complex, already planned on a postponement of electric truck production.
Ford chalks these timeline changes up to consumer demand for electric vehicles and consequently, electric vehicle batteries.
The company’s electric vehicle sales are down by something like 10% according to The Detroit News.
Ford Lightning pickup truck sales were down 14% and Ford E-Transit commercial van sales were down 40% as of July.
Meanwhile, Mustang Mach-E SUV sales were up 1% year-over-year for the same time period.
Last year, Ford lost approximately $5.1 billion from its Model e EV division and was expecting to see a similar loss in 2025 before the company suspended guidance for its business units due to tariffs.
Ford Chief Financial Officer, Sherry House, still wants to pursue cost reductions for the company’s electric vehicle parts, materials and logistics. However, batteries remain the most expensive cost associated with the electric vehicles.
Production of electric vehicle batteries at a BlueOvalSK Battery Park plant in Glendale, Kentucky began Tuesday of this week despite Ford’s reasons for delaying production in Tennessee.
The batteries produced at the Kentucky plant are being prepared to go into E-Transit commercial vans and F-150 Lightning pickup trucks.
Ford Motor Co.’s electric vehicle battery joint venture launched production Tuesday at its first plant in Kentucky for cells that will go into F-150 Lightning pickup trucks and E-Transit commercial vans, while production at the joint venture’s Tennessee battery plant has been delayed until 2027.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Ford, one failed “better” idea after another.