ford logoGovernor Bill Lee and TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced the news last week, Rolfe won TAEBC’s annual award earlier this year

The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council is excited about huge electric vehicle news coming out of West Tennessee! Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation announced a $5.6 billion investment in Tennessee to build one of the largest battery and vehicle manufacturing sites in the United States at the Memphis Regional Megasite. 

Dubbed the Blue Oval City, the 6,600-acre campus will create 5,800 new jobs in the region and start producing the all-electric F-Series trucks in 2025. Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe joined executives from Ford and SK Innovation to announce the project in Memphis last week.

“West Tennessee is primed to deliver the workforce and quality of life needed to create the next great American success story with Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation,” said Governor Lee in the official release. “This is a watershed moment for Tennesseans as we lead the future of the automotive industry and advanced manufacturing.”

In 2019, Rolfe announced the state’s goal of becoming a top electric vehicle producer in the southeast and greater U.S. Two years later, numerous automotive names have announced new projects and ventures in the Volunteer state, including General Motors, Volkswagen and now Ford.  

“You also asked us lastly to make sure that we maintained our position as a leader in the automotive, advanced manufacturing sector,” said Rolfe during the Ford announcement live stream, addressing Governor Lee. “Not only have we done that today, but I think we can plant the flag when we talk about the EV evolution headquartered right here in Tennessee.”

At TAEBC’s 2021 Annual Meeting, Rolfe received the Thomas B. Ballard Advanced Energy Leadership Award. The annual award honors exemplary leadership and success in championing, connecting, and strengthening Tennessee’s advanced energy economy. TAEBC selected Rolfe due to his mission to make Tennessee a top state in the country for the electric vehicle supply chain. This latest Ford announcement further reiterates Rolfe and the state’s commitment to fostering its role in advancing the electric vehicle industry. 

“Bob Rolfe has been a tremendous partner to TAEBC and the state’s impressive electric vehicle supply chain,” said TAEBC Executive Director Cortney Piper about Rolfe in the award announcement. “He is essential to making Tennessee a national leader in EV manufacturing and the advanced energy workforce. We’re excited for continued growth in advanced energy with the leadership from Commissioner Rolfe and all the efforts by TAEBC members and partners across the state.”

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