Ford Motor Company assumed a $3.8 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan on May 21, 2026. This capital funded the full acquisition of Kentucky battery plants and an exit from the BlueOval SK joint venture with SK On.
Ford Energy, a new subsidiary, will repurpose these facilities for grid-scale energy storage. The pivot follows a five-year agreement with EDF Power Solutions for up to 20 GWh of battery storage.
Morgan Stanley analysts categorized the move as an AI-adjacent infrastructure play. Ford shares jumped 9.22% to $14.93 on Friday following the announcement.