Not even a downpour could put a damper on a ‘Celebration at BlueOval City,’ which was held on the 3,600-acre campus at the Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County, Friday.
“The progress we’ve made already is truly incredible to us,” said Jim Farley, CEO of the Ford Motor Company, “… in 120 years, we (Ford) have built a lot of plants, but to see this progress here is really something.
“It’s a source of high-tech innovation, great careers and community investment here in West Tennessee.”
Farley, said BlueOval City will begin production in approximately 30 months.
“The whole plant will be carbon neutral,” Farley said, “We’ve never had a plant (of that nature). We have plants that are zero landfills now, but no fresh water will be used, at all … 100 percent of the water is reclaimed water.
“This is a new industrial revolution.”
Gov. Bill Lee sees possibilities for the entire state of Tennessee.
“This is a great in Tennessee, it’s a great day in West Tennessee,” Gov. Bill Lee said, “It’s an exciting day for the future – not only this community but all the state.”
BlueOval City – a massive new environmentally and technologically advanced vehicle and battery manufacturing campus in West Tennessee is leading the shift to an electric America scheduled to deliver Ford’s next all-new electric truck and batteries that will power future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
“It’s really an exciting day,” said Kel Kearns, Plant Manager, Electric Vehicle Center, BlueOval City, was impressed by the enthusiasm at the meeting. “It’s fabulous to see all the business leaders and everybody being excited (and) for many people an opportunity to see the progress of the site – we’re on track.”
Kearns has seen other Ford facilities rise from the ground up.
“I had the opportunity to go through the same process of construction, launch and running a plant in India and a new plant in China,” Kearns said, “Those experiences enable us to understand … know what is ahead of us, and put in place really good and strong plans to be successful here.”
In September, 2021, Ford announced the $5.6 billion project to build electric F-Series pickups at the Memphis Regional Megasite in Stanton, which is located about 45 miles west of Jackson at exit 42 off Interstate 40.
BlueOval City, is a joint venture with SK Innovation, which will build battery factories at the Tennessee site and in Glendale, Kentucky.
In West Tennessee, the project is predicted to boost the economies of several counties. Ford plans to employ about 6.000 workers at the plant, while construction of the factory and the arrival of Ford suppliers will create thousands more jobs.
“It’s amazing to see where they are and where they are going with this construction,” said retired Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris, “West Tennessee will look totally different place five years from now.”
(PHOTO: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, left, and Jim Farley, CEO, Ford Motor Company)
