Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Ford Motor Company has selected the Memphis Regional Megasite for one of the largest battery and vehicle manufacturing campuses in the U.S.
“West Tennessee is primed to deliver the workforce and quality of life needed to create the next great American success story with Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation,” said Gov. Lee. “This is a watershed moment for Tennesseans as we lead the future of the automotive industry and advanced manufacturing.”
Gov. Lee and leaders joined executives from Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation in Memphis on Tuesday, September 28 to share more details about the multi-year project.
“Tennessee is playing a key role in leading American advanced manufacturing, and we are thrilled to make this historic investment in West Tennessee to create Blue Oval City,” said Lisa Drake, Ford North America chief operating officer. “This once in a generation investment will create thousands of high-quality jobs and support America’s transition to electric vehicles. Tennessee will play a critical role as Ford continues to lead the electric vehicle revolution, tackle climate change, and create the jobs of tomorrow, and we look forward to working to create the future together.”
“Blue Oval City” brings 5,800 jobs to Memphis Regional Megasite
Ford and SK Innovation will invest $5.6 billion to build a 3,600-acre mega campus called Blue Oval City on the Memphis Regional Megasite, where production of next generation all-electric F-Series trucks will begin in 2025. The project will result in the creation of 5,800 new jobs in West Tennessee.
Blue Oval City will be designed to be the largest, most advanced and most efficient automotive production campus in Ford’s history. The campus will include the Ford assembly plant, a supplier park and a battery manufacturing plant operated by BlueOvalSK, Ford and SK Innovation’s joint venture. The site will become a vertically integrated ecosystem with key suppliers and battery manufacturing on the same campus where Ford will assemble next generation all-electric F-Series trucks.
West Tennessee to reap benefits in the billions
In addition to the multi-billion dollar investment from Ford, the State of Tennessee intends to offer an enhanced incentive totaling more than $500 million for successful completion of the project. Economic analysis projects the Ford build out of the Memphis Regional Megasite will result in significant job and gross state product gains. The Center for Economic Research, a division of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development projected the following:
- The project is anticipated to generate more than 27,000 new jobs, both directly and indirectly, to support the site’s operations. This will result in more than $1.02 billion in annual earnings.
- This project is anticipated to contribute $3.5 billion each year to Tennessee’s gross state product.
- This project is also expected to generate temporary construction benefits including $5.6 billion spent on land, buildings, and other real property improvements. Additionally, more than 32,000 jobs are expected to support the construction period, with around $1.87 billion in salaries related to construction activity.
“Today is a historic day as we welcome Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation to Tennessee,” said Tennessee Department of Economic Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe. “The ripple effect resulting from these projects will be transformational for our state, especially West Tennessee, and we are most grateful for this enormous investment and the addition of two top global brands. To have such a world renowned, American company land as our first tenant at the Memphis Regional Megasite underscores the site’s strength and potential for additional joint venture partners and suppliers.”
State Senator Page Walley (R-Bolivar) made the following statement regarding the announcement that Ford Motor Company will be locating a new manufacturing facility at the Memphis Regional Megasite:
“I am thrilled and grateful to God to be able to share the long-hoped-for, wonderful news about our Regional Megasite in Haywood and Fayette Counties. This was priority-one for me as our State Senator. Thanks to the work of our great team led by Governor Lee and ECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe, we will literally transform our area, and provide high paying jobs, and be the leaders in the next wave of the automotive industry.”
