Ford Announcement is a Giant Leap Toward Clean, Made-In-America Electric Vehicles

Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp

September 27, 2021
Sharyn Stein, EDF, 202-905-5718, sstein@edf.org

Ford Motor Company today announced an extraordinary new commitment to electric vehicles, including new investments from Ford and its partners totaling $11.4 billion.

The company will build two new state-of-the-art campuses in Glendale, Kentucky and Stanton, Tennessee devoted to the manufacture and assembly of electric vehicles, supplier parts, and advanced auto batteries; will spend $525 million over five years to give U.S. auto technicians the skills they need to succeed in the new EV economy; and will expand its range of electric F-series pickup trucks.

The investments Ford announced today are expected to generate 11,000 new U.S. jobs. These historic investments in new high-quality U.S. manufacturing jobs build on Ford’s earlier investments of more than $7 billion for 7,000 new jobs in electric vehicle manufacturing, including at the Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, Michigan – home to the all-electric F-150 Lightning truck.

Congress is now debating whether to make investments in U.S. manufacturing and job creation for clean vehicles.

Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp issued the following statement:

“If anyone was still wondering whether the electric vehicle revolution is real, Ford emphatically answered that question today. I thank my friend Bill Ford Jr. and his team for their extraordinary leadership in making the largest single investments in manufacturing in the 118-year history of Ford Motor Company. The transformative commitments and action from leading U.S. automakers such as Ford and General Motors have made the transition to clean transportation inevitable.

“What we need now is smart policy and investment from Washington to accelerate it – to invest in U.S. manufacturing jobs for American workers today and for generations to come. Congress has a once in a century moment – right now – to ensure that these clean vehicles are made in America. For some time, the key question has been whether the jobs that will inevitably come from the transition to electric vehicles would be located in the U.S. or overseas. China and the E.U. have long since adopted industrial policies to speed the growth of these sectors. The U.S. is playing catch-up, so Ford’s commitment to good clean-energy jobs for U.S. workers is a hugely welcome move, one that Congress must follow with bold action of its own. Congress, the time for debate is over and now is the time for action.

“I hope Ford’s bold move inspires Members of Congress to bring their discussions on infrastructure and reconciliation to a successful close by acting with the same courage and vision that Ford has shown today. Stabilizing our climate, eliminating tailpipe pollution and building a clean energy manufacturing economy that works for everyone, every family and every community requires nothing less.

“EDF has worked with Ford for many years to secure national climate pollution reductions from vehicles, most recently in support of President Biden’s vision that half of all new car sales in the U.S. will be zero-emitting by 2030. Today’s historic announcement is a giant leap toward making that bold vision a reality. My thanks and congratulations go to Ford Motor Company on this historic day.”

Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

# # #

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 2.5 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund