SK On Takes Full Control of Tennessee Battery Plant as Ford Partnership Ends
South Korean manufacturer SK On now fully owns the massive Tennessee battery plant, ending a multi-billion dollar joint venture with Ford.
STANTON, TENNESSEE — South Korean battery manufacturer SK On assumed complete ownership of a massive battery production facility at Ford’s BlueOval City campus Thursday, officially ending the companies’ joint venture that began in 2021.
The newly formed SK On Tennessee now controls the 4-million-square-foot West Tennessee battery plant, while a Ford subsidiary took full ownership of two Kentucky battery plants in the corporate split. The transition marks a shift in the electric vehicle battery manufacturing scene in Tennessee.
Strategic Partnership to Continue
Despite the ownership change, SK On Tennessee plans to maintain a strategic relationship with the automaker. The company “looks forward to supplying batteries for its future electrified vehicles,” spokesperson Keli McAlister said Friday.
SK On Tennessee aims to begin producing automotive and energy storage systems at the facility in 2028. The company first announced plans to dissolve the partnership in December 2025.
New Leadership Vision
“We are now entering a period of focused growth and purposeful transformation,” SK On Tennessee CEO Michael Adams stated on the subsidiary’s website. “We can now move faster, make decisions more quickly, and align every investment, innovation, and operational priority around a singular vision — building world-class battery technology that powers the future of mobility and energy.”
The ownership transition allows SK On to operate independently while remaining a tenant on Ford’s property. The 6-square-mile BlueOval City campus houses both the battery production plant and Ford’s manufacturing facility.
Massive Investment Background
Ford and SK On originally formed BlueOval SK in 2021, committing a combined $11.4 billion to construct three battery plants across two states. The investment created two facilities in Kentucky and the Tennessee plant now under SK On’s control.
The rural West Tennessee location represents a major manufacturing hub for electric vehicle components, positioning the state as a key player in the transition to electrified transportation. Ford representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding the ownership change.
The battery plant’s operation under SK On Tennessee ownership will continue supporting Ford’s electric vehicle production while potentially serving other automotive manufacturers in the future.
