1. What Is SK Battery America? ⚡
SK Battery America (SKBA) is part of SK On, from South Korea’s SK Group. It builds lithium-ion batteries in Commerce, Georgia. These batteries power electric vehicles like the Ford F‑150 Lightning and VW ID.4.
The site has two large factories covering 1.2 million square feet. About 3,000 people work there.
2. SK Battery America in Photos
The pictures show big buildings, wide factory floors, and active construction. These give you a sense of how big and busy the place is.
SK Battery America
3. What Workers Say
✅ Employee Reviews
On job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor, people mention:
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Good: Pay, lunch, benefits, stable hours
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Bad: Favoritism, weak management, long walks, boring tasks
“The pay was great, the work was easy enough. They’ll hire anybody though. Supervisors have favorites…”
“It’s a good job… pay hard to beat, easy job, cool schedule.”
⚠️ Safety Problems
There have been safety issues and fines.
| When | What Happened | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | No safety gear for workers handling nickel and manganese | $75,449 |
| Apr 2024 | Fire from battery materials, poor emergency planning | $77,200 |
| Jul–Oct 2023 | Fire at recycling site, led to $31 million settlement | $31 million |
OSHA said SKBA broke safety rules more than once in a short time.
4. What the Community Thinks
After the recycling fire, some locals spoke out. One said SKBA destroyed important evidence. Others worry about health and environmental risks.
5. Jobs and Production
💼 Jobs & Investment
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SKBA invested $1.6 billion in 2018. That total is now over $2.6 billion.
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By late 2022, they had hired 2,600 people. The goal is around 3,000.
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They work with local colleges and training programs.
🔋 What They Make
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Annual battery output: 9.8 GWh
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They make high-nickel cells for Ford and Volkswagen.
6. Partnerships & Market Role
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SK On is working with Ford on BlueOval SK in Kentucky and Tennessee.
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The U.S. gave them $9.63 billion in loans for battery plants.
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A new site with Hyundai is planned in Bartow County, Georgia.
7. Safety and Environment
What They Say
SKBA says they follow strict safety rules and are fixing problems. They’re working with OSHA.
What Critics Say
Many still have doubts. The $31 million settlement shows serious past mistakes in handling waste.
8. The Big Picture
👍 Good
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Big investment in U.S. EV batteries
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Thousands of jobs created
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Strong partnerships with Ford, VW, and Hyundai
👎 Bad
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Safety issues and OSHA violations
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Fire and waste problems hurt community trust
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Some workers unhappy with management
9. Quick Summary
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Plant Size | 2 factories, 9.8 GWh capacity, 3,000 workers |
| Investment & Jobs | $2.6B+ total, strong training partnerships |
| Auto Partners | Ford, VW, Hyundai |
| Worker Feedback | Good pay, but complaints about favoritism and weak supervision |
| Safety Fines | Jan & Apr 2024 violations; $152K total; 2023 fire led to $31M fine |
| Community Concerns | Ongoing worries about safety and pollution |
| Future Plans | New plants with DOE support, but must earn public trust |
10. What Needs Work
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Fix Safety Gaps: Stronger emergency plans, better gear, proper training
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Support Workers: Clearer guidance, better leadership
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Be Honest: Share updates and safety progress with the public
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Stay Connected: Listen to the local community and respond
✅ Final Thoughts
SK Battery America is growing fast. It’s a big part of America’s clean energy push. The pay and job opportunities are solid. But safety problems and poor handling of past issues have hurt its image.
To succeed long-term, SKBA must protect workers, stay transparent, and rebuild trust. If they do, they could lead the way in U.S. battery production.
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