SoftBank has quietly bought Foxconn’s EV plant in Lordstown, Ohio for around $375 million, according to multiple reports. The facility—once owned by GM and later Lordstown Motors—spans over 6 million square feet and will likely be converted into a data center as part of SoftBank’s massive Stargate AI infrastructure project.
Stargate is the $500 billion joint effort SoftBank launched with OpenAI, Oracle, and chip firm MGX earlier this year. SoftBank is footing the bill, while OpenAI handles operations. The goal: build massive U.S.-based data centers to power the next generation of AI.
This Ohio site could be one of Stargate’s first real-world deployments. The project has been dogged by delays and disagreements over where and how to build, but this move signals progress. It also shows SoftBank’s willingness to go solo when needed—the purchase was made through a separate entity, Crescent Dune LLC.
No one involved has confirmed the plant’s new purpose, but sources say it will support Stargate’s rollout. If true, it could mark the shift from pitch deck to physical infrastructure for one of the most ambitious AI bets ever made.