The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Feb. 13, edition that in the auto industry, idle factories can significantly harm profits, which Ford faced after shutting down eight million square feet of underutilized manufacturing space in rural Kentucky. A New York Times dispatch to The Globe reports that the Glendale factory, previously producing batteries for electric vehicles, will now be repurposed to manufacture large batteries for utilities and data centres to manage energy supply fluctuations. This conversion aims to reduce maintenance costs and meet the growing demand for storage batteries. Ford, which plans to restart production next year, said in a statement that it would deploy "more than a century of manufacturing expertise and licenced advanced battery technology." But it is a risky move for a company that primarily makes cars. Ford has little experience manufacturing batteries, and it faces numerous seasoned competitors, including Tesla, LG Energy Solution and SK On, the South Korean company that built the factory with Ford. Ford and SK On dissolved their joint venture in December, four months after it began producing vehicle batteries, and Ford assumed sole ownership.