SK Battery America, Inc. announced March 6 it would lay off 958 workers from its electric vehicle battery plant in Commerce, Georgia. The workers, which the Associated Press reports make up roughly 37% of the company’s entire workforce, finished their last day of work on March 6 but will receive pay through May 6, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice filed with the state.
The $2.6 billion plant opened in January 2022 and initially supplied the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. The company was formed as a joint venture with Ford, which discontinued the partnership and announced it would cease production of the F-150 Lightning in December 2025.
Manufacturers investing in Georgia
Pratt & Whitney spending $200 million to expand Georgia aircraft engine factory
The new expansion is expected to initially create 15 new jobs.
Preciball USA announces new $17 million Georgia factory
The new factory for producing industrial balls for bearings and valves will create 65 new jobs.
Dongwon Autopart Technology to build new $30 million Georgia factory, create 200 new jobs
The Korean auto parts manufacturer already has about 500 employees in the region.
About the Author
Ryan Secard
Ryan Secard joined Endeavor B2B in 2020 as a news editor for IndustryWeek. He currently contributes to IW, American Machinist, Foundry Management & Technology, and Plant Services on breaking manufacturing news, new products, plant openings and closures, and labor issues in manufacturing.