Live by the mandate, die by the mandate.
[In 2021, Ford] announced a joint venture with SK to build a pair of battery factories, one in Kentucky, the other in Tennessee. BlueOvalSK represented an $11.4 billion investment that would create 11,000 jobs, we were told, and an annual output of 60 GWh from both plants.
Four years later, things look very different. EV subsidies are dead, as is any inclination by the current government to hold automakers accountable for selling too many gas guzzlers. EV-heavy product plans have been thrown out, and designs for new combustion-powered cars are being dusted off and spiffed up. Fewer EVs means a lower need for batteries, and today we saw that in evidence when it emerged that Ford and SK On are ending their battery factory joint venture.
They always tout these huge job numbers, and the trained seal press can’t be bothered to ask questions about it like “How many of these jobs are temporary for construction?” or “how many of these jobs will be when the plant is operational?” or most importantly “when the subsidies run out, how many jobs will be left?”
Good points.
I wouldn’t think you’d create many jobs in a battery plant.
I would guess you would automate as much as possible because its technically easier than say building a truck.