Georgia Loses Nearly 1,000 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs Amid Shifts in EV Market

Commerce, GA – Nearly 1,000 workers at SK Battery America were laid off Friday as the electric vehicle (EV) market faces new challenges, highlighting the fragile intersection of clean energy policy and economic growth in Georgia.

The company terminated 958 positions at its $2.6 billion battery plant, which opened in January 2022 and supplied batteries for the now-canceled Ford F-150 Lightning. Impacted employees will continue receiving pay through May 6, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing.

SK Battery America cited shifts in automakers’ electrification priorities and uncertain consumer demand as reasons for the layoffs, but analysts note that recent federal policy changes have also played a major role. Earlier this year, Congress eliminated the $7,500 EV tax credit, while the Trump administration rolled back emissions standards and fuel economy rules, reducing incentives for EV production and slowing investments in clean energy manufacturing.

“These were battery manufacturing jobs, and now they’re gone,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff, highlighting the economic impact of policy changes on Georgia’s workforce. Sen. Raphael Warnock added, “The Georgia workers at the SK plant have helped make our state a leader in advanced manufacturing. They deserve better than policies that put politics over people.”

Despite the layoffs, SK Battery America emphasized its commitment to Georgia and to building a U.S. supply chain for advanced batteries. The company is pursuing future opportunities, including battery energy storage systems, signaling that Georgia could still play a central role in the nation’s clean energy transition—but only if federal and state policies support long-term investment.

Economic experts say the layoffs underscore the importance of stable clean energy policies in maintaining high-paying manufacturing jobs. The SK Battery case serves as a cautionary tale: when incentives for EV production and advanced manufacturing are weakened, the consequences are felt immediately in local communities.

For now, Commerce workers and their families face uncertainty, while policymakers and industry leaders debate how to keep Georgia competitive in a rapidly evolving clean energy economy.