Three Korean battery companies accelerating recruitment ahead of U.S. factory launch - Korean media

Blue Oval SK, a joint venture between SK On and American automaker Ford, is hiring staff for its three factories in the United States.
The three plants have a maximum annual production capacity of more than 120 gigawatt hours. Two of the plants, in Kentucky and Tennessee, have a maximum annual production capacity of more than 120 gigawatt hours.
Blue Oval SK is scheduled to start operations in November 2024. In November 2024, the company hired approximately 1,100 people. From 2025, it will accelerate hiring ahead of the start of factory operations.
Meanwhile, LG Energy Solutions' Arizona plant is the company's first cylindrical battery plant. It is expected to reach about 35% production capacity by the end of 2024.
Construction has already been completed, with the aim of starting operation in 2026. Large-scale adoption is planned as early as the end of 2025 to early 2026.
Samsung SDI is a joint venture with Stellantis, a major European and American automaker.
The company has brought forward the start of operations at its first Energy plant to January 2024. The remaining three lines will be operational in the January-March period. The company is currently recruiting maintenance and repair managers, engineers, and manufacturing support specialists.
Under the Trump administration, there are concerns about the reduction of subsidies under the Inflation Control Act (IRA), but Korean companies are taking advantage of the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax (APT) provided to local battery cell and module manufacturers.
The company is also looking forward to receiving the Amended Production Credit (AMPC) from the local government. It also emphasizes that by employing personnel at its factories, it can contribute to the local community.