Ford to Lay Off 1,600 Workers at Kentucky Battery Plant Amid EV Strategy Shift

Ford Motor Company is set to lay off around 1,600 employees at its BlueOval SK battery manufacturing facility in Hardin County, Kentucky, as the automaker recalibrates its electric vehicle (EV) strategy and pivots toward energy storage technologies.
The job cuts will affect the BlueOval SK plant in Glendale, a joint venture that was originally positioned as a cornerstone of Ford’s EV expansion in the United States. Local officials have confirmed that the layoffs are part of a transition phase at the facility. County authorities are working with Ford and state agencies to support impacted workers and connect them with re-employment and assistance programmes.
Despite the immediate reduction in jobs, Ford has indicated that the Glendale facility will continue to play a role in its long-term plans, albeit with a revised focus. The company intends to take direct control of the plant and undertake a retooling effort aimed at serving the growing energy storage market. Ford is expected to invest close to $2 billion over the next two years and has stated that the reconfigured operation could eventually create more than 2,000 jobs.
The transition, however, is expected to take time. Local estimates suggest the retooling process could last up to 18 months, although the company has not announced a formal timeline. During this period, production is likely to shift toward lithium iron phosphate battery technology, commonly used in large-scale energy storage applications such as data centres, utilities, and commercial infrastructure.
The developments in Kentucky come as Ford reassesses its EV investments amid slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles and changing policy conditions. The automaker has also announced production pauses and restructuring measures at several other facilities across the United States as it adapts to evolving market dynamics.

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