Ford has announced the start of production of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells in Michigan. The start of production comes ahead of the launch of its highly anticipated affordable electric pickup.
The batteries are being produced at Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility in Marshall, where more than 500 employees are already at work. The automaker expects that number to grow to 800 workers by the end of 2026 and eventually reach 1,700 jobs once the plant is fully operational.
The new battery cells will power Ford’s upcoming midsize electric truck, the first vehicle built on the company’s next-generation Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform. While Ford has only revealed limited details about the truck so far, it is expected to enter production in 2027 at the Louisville Assembly Plant, with a targeted starting price of around US$30,000.
According to Ford, employees at the Marshall facility are now producing complete prismatic battery cells, handling the entire manufacturing process from raw material preparation and coating through final inspection and validation testing. The company says it has moved beyond early prototype production and is now building production-intent battery cells for testing and quality verification.
The technology itself comes through a licensing agreement with Chinese battery giant CATL, the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer. However, Ford retains full ownership and operational control of the Michigan facility, while CATL provides technical expertise and training support.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer praised the project and its economic impact on the state.
“BlueOval Battery Park Michigan has already created more than 500 high-tech, good-paying jobs, with hundreds more jobs on the way,” Whitmer said.
The facility has attracted significant interest from job seekers, with Ford reporting more than 11,500 applications to date.
LFP batteries have become increasingly popular across the EV industry because they eliminate the need for expensive materials such as nickel and cobalt, helping reduce costs while offering long cycle life and improved durability. Tesla has already adopted LFP batteries extensively in its base model lineup around the world.
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