KOKOMO — The 2.4 million-square foot electric vehicle battery plant that will become the city’s first high-tech industrial site has received the final approval it needs to break ground. The city’s plan commission unanimously approved the development plan and variance for Star Plus Energy, the joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI to build a lithium-ion battery plant in the Kokomo Technology Park.

The city of Kokomo is preparing for the arrival of 1,400 new employees at the first North American battery manufacturing plant of its kind. The joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI is expected to open in 2025.

Dukes said the project will have a wide impact on the community. IU Bloomington is working with the city to offer resources, including Korean language classes, to help new employees integrate into everyday life in Howard County. IU also plans to host a series of events to educate the local community on everyday Korean culture, including what happens when employees clock out for the day.

The facility will be able to produce about 34 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, enough to power more than half of the nation’s current vehicles. That’s up from the initial target of 23 GWh when the plant is targeted to begin production in 2025. That’s a part of Stellantis’ long-term electrification strategy, in which the company invests $35 billion through 2025 in electrification and software globally. Star Plus Energy