Ford Motor Company confirmed today that BlueOval Battery Park Michigan remains on schedule to commence production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2026. These batteries will power Ford’s future electric vehicles, marking a significant step in the automaker’s electrification strategy.
Revised Incentive Offers and Job Creation
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Michigan Strategic Fund has provided Ford with a revised incentive offer for BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall, Michigan. This adjustment matches the reduced project scope announced last November. Additionally, the agency revised its incentive offer for another job-creation initiative across several Ford facilities in Michigan, initially announced in June 2022. This project includes adding a new third crew at the Michigan Assembly Plant, incorporating some employees from the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.
Upon completion, these initiatives are expected to create or retain upwards of 5,000 Ford jobs in Michigan, with several thousand already added since 2022. Ford’s total workforce in the state now exceeds 44,000 employees.
“We are grateful to the Michigan Strategic Fund board and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for their support as we build upon Ford’s strong history of job creation and investment in Michigan,” said Tony Reinhart, Ford’s director of state and local government affairs. “We are nimbly adjusting our manufacturing operations to match evolving customer demand and the Michigan Strategic Fund board is revising its incentive offers accordingly.”
Production and Environmental Commitments
BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is expected to benefit from the advanced manufacturing production tax credit under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. The plant anticipates creating over 1,700 jobs and will be headed by Scott Davis, CEO of BlueOval Battery Michigan LLC, a wholly owned Ford subsidiary. The facility aims for an annual LFP battery production capacity of approximately 20 gigawatt hours starting in 2026.
“BlueOval Battery Park Michigan will play an important role in our plan to help make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable by producing low-cost LFP batteries in the U.S. and not relying on imports,” said Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of electric vehicle programs and energy supply chain. “We continue to make great progress establishing America’s first automaker-backed LFP battery plant right here in Michigan.”
Construction of the 1.8 million square-foot main facility, which includes a cell plant and a pack plant, is approximately 20% complete. The entire operation will span 500 acres, with an additional 230 acres made available to the Marshall Area Economic Development Authority for future commercial activity. To protect the environment, Ford has designated 245 acres along the Kalamazoo River as a conservation easement.
Community Support and Investments
Ford has made significant contributions to the local community, totaling nearly $450,000. This includes donations to landmarks such as the Brooks Memorial Fountain, Binder Park Zoo, and Bohm Theatre. Ford’s community relations director, Gabby Bruno, emphasized the company’s commitment to being a good neighbor and supporting local causes.
Recent Ford investments in the Marshall community include:
- $50,000 to the Calhoun County Fairgrounds
- $35,500 to the Wilder Creek Conservation Club
- $25,000 to the city of Marshall for tree planting
- $22,000 for a new marquee at the Franke Center for the Arts
- $10,000 for the Marshall Bucks matching program supporting local small businesses
