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Cartersville Today
By the People, for the People
SK Battery lays off nearly 1,000 workers at Georgia plant
Layoffs come amid automakers' changing electrification plans and uncertain EV demand
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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SK Battery America Inc. has laid off nearly 1,000 workers, about 37% of the workforce, at its battery manufacturing plant in Commerce, Georgia. The company cited automakers' shifting electrification plans and uncertain consumer demand for EVs as the reasons behind the layoffs. The plant will continue to employ around 1,600 workers.
Why it matters
The layoffs at SK's Georgia plant highlight the challenges facing the EV industry as automakers reevaluate their multibillion-dollar electrification plans amid financial losses and weaker-than-expected consumer demand. This could have broader implications for Georgia's efforts to establish itself as a hub for EV manufacturing.
The details
SK Battery America opened the $2.6 billion battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, in January 2022. The company notably supplied batteries for the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, but Ford announced plans to cancel the fully electric version of the truck in December. SK said the workforce reduction was made to align operations to market conditions. The plant will continue to employ around 1,600 workers.
- SK Battery America opened the $2.6 billion battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, in January 2022.
- Ford announced plans to cancel the fully electric version of the F-150 Lightning in December 2025.
- SK Battery America laid off nearly 1,000 workers on March 6, 2026.
The players
SK Battery America Inc.
A battery company that opened a $2.6 billion manufacturing plant in Commerce, Georgia in 2022.
Ford
An American automaker that had partnered with SK Battery America to supply batteries for the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck.
Joe Guy Collier
A spokesperson for SK Americas.
Jon Ossoff
A Democratic U.S. Senator from Georgia.
Brian Kemp
The Governor of Georgia.
What they’re saying
“SK Battery America remains committed to Georgia and to building a robust U.S. supply chain for advanced battery manufacturing. We are pursuing a range of future customers, including the Battery Electric Storage System arena.”
— Joe Guy Collier, SK Americas spokesperson (wbal.com)
“Let's be clear: these were battery manufacturing jobs and now they're gone. As predicted, Trump's war on electric vehicles is hurting Georgia's economy. We were booming and building new plants. Now Georgians are losing their jobs.”
— Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator from Georgia (wbal.com)
What’s next
SK and Hyundai are still jointly building a $5 billion battery factory near Cartersville, northwest of Atlanta, which could help offset some of the job losses from the SK plant in Commerce.
The takeaway
The layoffs at SK's Georgia plant underscore the challenges facing the EV industry as automakers reevaluate their electrification plans amid weaker-than-expected consumer demand. This could have broader implications for Georgia's efforts to establish itself as a hub for EV manufacturing, highlighting the need for the state to diversify its economic strategy.
