(Photo by Charles-McClintock Wilson/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ford said Thursday it plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Kentucky with a $1 billion investment in a new, state-of-the-art paint shop at its Kentucky Truck Plant.
The facility in Louisville will replace the plant’s existing paint shop as part of a broader modernization effort.
What they're saying:
Ford said the upgraded technology will improve paint quality while making production more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
The Kentucky Truck Plant is Ford’s largest manufacturing facility and its highest-revenue plant, the automaker said. A vehicle leaves the assembly line every 45 seconds. The plant produces F-Series Super Duty pickups, Ford Expedition SUVs and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.
"For more than a century, Ford and Kentucky have grown together, and we're investing to ensure that relationship remains strong for generations to come," Ford CEO Jim Farley said.
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"These investments demonstrate our confidence in Kentucky's workforce, our commitment to American manufacturing and our belief that the future of mobility and energy will be right here in the United States."
What's next:
Ford said construction is expected to begin by the end of the year. The company also plans to hold a Kentucky Truck Plant Family Open House on Sept. 13 for employees and their families to showcase the work performed at the facility.
Big picture view:
Ford’s nearby Louisville Assembly Plant is also undergoing a major modernization. The automaker is installing its Universal EV Production System there to support production of the recently unveiled Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup truck scheduled to launch in 2027. The investment is expected to make the facility one of Ford’s most advanced and flexible manufacturing plants.
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The backstory:
Ford’s Kentucky operations date back to 1913, when the first Model T rolled off an assembly line in Louisville. The state is also home to more than 6,000 Ford retirees.
The automaker previously announced a $2 billion investment in Ford Energy to convert a former battery manufacturing site in Glendale, Kentucky, into a large-scale producer of battery energy storage systems.
Ford also cited a 2020 Boston Consulting Group study that found the company contributes $11.7 billion annually to Kentucky’s economic output. Nearly 120,000 people in the state work for Ford, its suppliers or its dealers, according to the company.
A 2023 report by University of Louisville professor Thomas Lambert found that Ford’s total economic impact in Kentucky exceeds $33 billion through its network of vendors and suppliers.
The Source: FOX Business contributed to this report. Information in this story came from Ford’s announcement about its planned $1 billion investment in a new paint shop at the Kentucky Truck Plant, along with statements from CEO Jim Farley and company information about its Kentucky operations. This story was reported from Los Angeles.