Ford’s largest and most advanced BlueOval City in the making

KUALA LUMPUR: The local market has recently been graced with two revamped Ford models - Ranger pickup and Everest SUV, however, in the meantime, the American auto giant has initiated something very big on the home ground. It has laid the foundation stone for its largest, most advanced auto production complex ever in its 119-year history. 

Dubbed as the BlueOval City, the site stretches over six square miles (15.5 square-kilometre) area and is three times larger than the iconic Rouge complex that Henry Ford constructed in Michigan a century ago to produce Model Ts.

“We are building the future right here in West Tennessee,” said Eric Grubb, Ford’s director of new footprint construction. “This facility is the blueprint for Ford’s future manufacturing facilities and will enable Ford to help lead America’s shift to electric vehicles.”

The brand will be investing a total of $5.6 billion in the construction of the plant, which will be started in 2025. “Ford’s historic investment in West Tennessee is a testament to our state’s strong business climate and unmatched workforce,” said Governor Bill Lee. “BlueOval City will have a transformational impact on Tennesseans and our economy, and we’re proud this global company will call Haywood County home.”

Key contributions of the Ford BlueOval City will be -

• Situated in western Tennessee, the factory will play a crucial role in the brand's electric future by building batteries for Ford electric cars and an all-new EV truck that is touted as a "revolutionary" model
• The battery plant will generate 2,500 jobs, while the electric-truck assembly will employ 3,260 staff.
• It will also help Ford to achieve its target of building 2 million EVs annually by the end of 2026. Last year, the brand sold 27,140 EVs in the US.

Ford's current electric vehicles lineup comprises - F-150 Lightning pickup. Mustang Mach-E crossover, and E-Transit commercial van.  With the new plant in development, the automaker will be electrifying its other vehicles as well to take on the electric vehicle market leader Tesla.

Also read: Meet Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the track-focussed pony car