Ford's Project T3: What we know about electric truck to be produced at BlueOval City

Omer Yusuf, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read

Ford Motor Co. gave more information about the electric truck that will eventually be produced at BlueOval City — a $5.6 billion project that plans to create about 5,800 new jobs in Haywood County.

BlueOval City will be home to Ford’s second-generation electric truck — code named Project T3, according to a news release.

Ford shared more details about its plans for BlueOval City at an on-site event in Stanton on Friday morning. Friday’s event marked the first time members of the public will be allowed on-site at BlueOval City to see progress on construction.

Here are three things to know about Project T3.

Ford officials say BlueOval City is on track to start production of the company's all-new electric truck in 2025. Ford hosted a celebration at the Haywood County site on Friday, March 24, 2023, offering updates on the project and a look at construction progress. Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co., speaks during the event.
Ford officials say BlueOval City is on track to start production of the company's all-new electric truck in 2025. Ford hosted a celebration at the Haywood County site on Friday, March 24, 2023, offering updates on the project and a look at construction progress. Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co., speaks during the event.

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What is Project T3?

Until now, Ford has not shared many details about the future electric truck that would be produced at BlueOval City, only to say it will not be the Ford F-150 Lightning or any other EV truck currently available.

Project T3 is short for “Trust the Truck.” Ford said the code name stuck after the development team made it “their rallying cry.”

“The team’s single guiding principle has been to create a truck people can trust in the digital age — one that’s fully updatable, constantly improving, and supports towing, hauling, exportable power and endless new innovations owners will want,” Ford said in a press release describing Project T3.

How many EVs will be produced at BlueOval City?

There will be about 3,300 employees at the Electric Vehicle Center assembly plant at BlueOval City.

Once full production begins, Ford plans to produce 500,000 EVs a year at the plant. As Ford seeks to compete with Tesla atop the EV market, the company is targeting a production run rate of 2 million EVs annually across the globe by late 2026.

Next to the Electric Vehicle Center, BlueOval SK — a joint venture between Ford and SK On — there will be EV batteries produced for Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

The BlueOval SK team will build battery cells and arrays and assemble battery packs that will be delivered just across the site into the assembly plant, in less than 30 minutes.

When will production begin for the new EVs?

BlueOval City remains on track to open in 2025 with the first vehicles likely to come off the line shortly afterward.

The hiring process for the 5,800 jobs is expected to ramp up over the next two years as construction continues on-site in Stanton.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ford electric truck: What we know about Project T3