Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan has crossed major hiring and production milestones as the automaker moves closer to launching U.S.-made lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for electric vehicles.
The company announced that more than 500 employees have already joined the Marshall, Michigan-based facility, with plans to grow the workforce to 800 by the end of 2026 and eventually create 1,700 jobs.
Ford also confirmed that the plant is on track to begin shipping LFP batteries next year, making it the first automaker to manufacture LFP batteries in the United States for mainstream consumer electric vehicles.
The batteries will power Ford’s upcoming affordable midsize electric truck, which will be built on the company’s new Universal EV Platform.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer praised the project, calling it a major step toward strengthening domestic battery manufacturing and creating high-tech jobs in the state.
“This project brings world-class battery technology to our state and positions us to bring even more auto and battery manufacturing back from overseas,” Whitmer said.
Ford said the facility recently achieved a significant production milestone, with employees now assembling full LFP prismatic battery cells from initial slurry coating to final inspection and testing.
The automaker credited its collaboration with Chinese battery giant CATL for helping establish advanced manufacturing and quality-control systems at the plant. Ford said batteries are now undergoing rigorous testing to meet industry-leading safety and performance standards, with quality targets measured in “parts per billion.”
The company emphasized that the project is part of a broader effort to strengthen America’s battery supply chain and reduce dependence on overseas production.
Interest in employment at the facility has surged, with Ford receiving more than 11,500 applications. According to the company, over 70% of employees come from nearby communities including Marshall, Albion, and Battle Creek.
Workers at the facility are being trained in advanced manufacturing skills such as robotics, electrochemistry, cleanroom operations, and machine automation. Ford said 87% of production employees have already achieved Level 2 certification, allowing them to operate machinery under expert supervision.
Employees such as production operator Walt Nichols described the plant as an opportunity to help build “the technology of tomorrow,” while fellow worker Andrew Charameda compared the futuristic facility to the robot-driven worlds seen in video games.
BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is considered a central part of Ford’s electric vehicle expansion strategy as competition intensifies in the global EV and battery manufacturing market.
