US President Donald Trump recently announced a raft of new, expensive import tariffs on cars, trucks, and even parts and batteries imported into the country βΒ which means that Ford might have timed its BlueOval SK battery factory going online perfectly.
In Washington last week, President Trump rocked the automotive world by by announcing huge, 25% duties on cars and major automotive components not manufactured in the United States beginning April 2nd.
Over in Kentucky, the BlueOval SK factories, part of a $9.63 billion joint venture (JV) between Ford and the South Korean battery experts at SK On, is eventually expected to employ more than 7,500 people in operations roles, churning out more than 120 gigawatt-hoursβ worth of battery capacity per year once fully operational. And, crucially, theyβre expected to go online βat the end of Q1.β
In other words: like, right now.
Good for F-150 Lightning
Automakers and car dealers alike are scrambling to understand what the new Trump tariffs will mean for the market, but some automakers might see the new tariffs as an opportunity to pull ahead of the competition βΒ and thatβs especially true of companies that have invested billions in US manufacturing.
Ford is one of those companies, and the newly unionized BlueOval SK battery factories should begin shipping batteries to the Dearborn, Michigan facility that manufactures the F-150 Lightning any day now. That move should give the electric F-series some price insulation that other EVs in the same price range (Iβm looking at you, Jeep Wagoneer S) wonβt enjoy.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E, however, is another matter.
Bad for Mustang Mach-E
Fordβs other EV, the Mustang Mach-E, is popular enough that itβs actually outselling the gas-powered Mustang, but itβs lost some of its early luster and market share to other excellent, newer sporty electric crossovers like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Honda Prologue, and Porsche Macan EV.
This might seem like bad news for the Mach-E, but both the electric Mustang and F-150 have already been on the market for nearly five years βΒ and thatβs with minimal upgrades or aesthetic updates outside of an off-road-focused Rally package (shown, above, tearing up the snow in Norway).
Given the surplus production capacity at Fordβs Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, and the imminent launch of EV production at BlueOval City later this year, itβs not completely crazy to think that Ford could soon announce plans to build an updated, or even next-generation Mustang Mach-E at one of these US facilities.
How good would their timing be on that!?
While you think about how youβre going to answer that question in the comments section, use the links below to find 0% financing deals on Fordβs current electric vehicle lineup before the April 2nd day of automotive reckoning. Ford also announced a 0% financing deal plus $4,000 in bonus cash on the F-150 Lightning pickup,Β while Ford Pro customers buying an F-150 Lightning for their commercial or public fleet can get even better deals on the OG electric trucks.
Happy shopping!
Original content fromΒ Electrek; images by Ford.
