SK Battery Cuts 958 Jobs at Georgia Plant as EV Demand Stalls

Key Details SK Battery America laid off 958 workers at its Commerce, Georgia manufacturing facility on March 6, marking a major shift in the battery supply chain. The plant, which opened in January 2022 with a $2.6 billion investment, supplied batteries for the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Affected employees will receive pay through May 6. Why It Matters Ford discontinued the fully electric F-150 in December and opted for an extended-range hybrid version instead. SK also ended its joint venture with Ford, which had committed $11.4 billion to U.S. battery manufacturing projects. This signals automakers are reassessing aggressive EV timelines due to slower-than-expected consumer adoption. Market Context EV sales currently represent about 8 percent of new U.S. vehicle purchases, flat compared to last year. The Trump administration is redirecting federal support away from electrification toward traditional automotive emissions policies and fossil fuel industries. SK maintains ongoing investment in Georgia, including a $5 billion battery factory joint venture with Hyundai near Cartersville.