Ford has reached a major milestone in its electrification strategy, becoming the first automaker to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells in the United States for mainstream electric vehicles.
The company announced that teams at its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility have successfully assembled the first prismatic LFP battery cells, marking a key step toward launching a new generation of more affordable electric vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley revealed that the company produced its first full battery cells this week, making Ford the first automaker in the U.S. to manufacture LFP batteries for mass-market automotive applications.
The batteries will power Ford’s upcoming midsize electric pickup, the first vehicle based on the automaker’s new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform. The cells will also support Ford’s expanding energy storage business.
Production Ramp-Up Underway
Ford says the Marshall, Michigan, plant is currently ramping up production of so-called “D-Sample” cells. These batteries are built using materials and manufacturing processes intended for full-scale production and are now undergoing final validation and testing before commercial deployment.
According to Ford, the facility remains on schedule to begin producing market-ready battery cells before the end of 2026, supporting the launch of the new electric pickup in 2027.
BlueOval Battery Park Michigan was first announced in 2023 and is fully owned by Ford. The automaker has licensed LFP battery technology from Chinese battery giant CATL, allowing Ford to manufacture the cells domestically while maintaining ownership and operational control of the facility.
CATL has played an important role in helping Ford scale production, providing technical expertise and employee training during the plant’s ramp-up phase.
Why Ford Is Betting on LFP Batteries
Ford’s decision to invest heavily in LFP technology reflects a broader shift in its battery strategy.
Compared with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries, LFP cells offer lower energy density and can be less effective in extremely cold temperatures. However, they are significantly less expensive to produce, use more widely available raw materials, and typically deliver longer service life and improved durability.
Ford executives argue that these advantages are critical for building truly affordable electric vehicles.
Last year, Lisa Drake, Ford’s Vice President of Platform Programs and EV Systems, defended the company’s decision to license CATL technology, stating that producing prismatic LFP batteries in the U.S. is essential to lowering EV costs while creating well-paying American manufacturing jobs.
The company expects the Marshall facility to employ approximately 800 workers by the end of this year, with staffing eventually increasing to around 1,700 employees as production expands.
A $30,000 Electric Pickup on the Horizon
The first vehicle to benefit from Ford’s new battery technology will be a midsize electric pickup expected to start at around $30,000 when it launches in 2027.
Ford claims the truck will be significantly more efficient and affordable than current EV offerings while delivering a lower cost of ownership than a Tesla Model Y. The company also says the compact battery design will help maximize interior space, providing more passenger room than a Toyota RAV4.
Production of the pickup is expected to take place at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant, with customer deliveries beginning shortly after launch.
The move represents an important step in Ford’s efforts to make electric vehicles more accessible to mainstream buyers. As the automaker expands beyond its original NCM-focused battery strategy and explores additional chemistries such as lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries, domestically produced LFP cells are expected to play a central role in its next generation of affordable EVs.
[source: Electrek]
