Ford appears ready to announce plans to build a massive $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Southwestern Michigan. The automaker’s scheduled a news conference at its Ion Park battery development facility just outside of Detroit for Monday.
According to the advisory, the event will focus on Ford’s latest push to “scale EVs quickly and, ultimately, make them more accessible to customers.” Crain’s Detroit Business first published the story.
The location, about 1,900 acres in Marshall, Michigan, just east of Battle Creek, was reportedly the company’s second choice after Virginia, but that state’s governor somewhat controversially turned it down. Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican and former hedge fund executive, called the project a “Trojan horse” for China to get a foothold in the U.S. and dominate the EV battery industry.
Ford is partnering with China-based CATL on the project, but the company plans to staff the new facility with Ford employees while CATL will provide intellectual support for the plant. Michigan has been battling for every EV-related facility it believes should come to the state.
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