Ford to build new $1 billion paint shop at Kentucky Truck Plant
Ford plans to build a new $1 billion state-of-the-art paint shop at its Kentucky Truck Plant to replace the facility’s existing paint shop and further modernize one of Ford’s most important manufacturing operations, a press release states.
Groundbreaking is expected to occur by late this year.
“The announcement builds on Ford’s recent investments across Kentucky, including approximately $2 billion for the transformation of Louisville Assembly Plant into the new manufacturing center for Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform and approximately $2 billion at Ford Energy Systems in Glendale, which will manufacture battery energy storage systems,” the release states. “Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville is Ford Motor Company’s largest and highest revenue plant, where a vehicle rolls off the assembly line every 45 seconds.”
Ford says the Kentucky Truck Plant remains a cornerstone of the OEM’s manufacturing footprint, producing vehicles including the F-Series Super Duty pickups and the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.
“The planned paint shop investment will further enhance the plant’s long-term competitiveness,” the release states. “Upgraded technology in the new paint shop will deliver cleaner and more efficient paint quality, supporting continued production excellence with improved efficiency and advanced environmental sustainability.”
Changes to the Louisville Assembly Plant will include installing Ford’s new Universal EV Production System to support production of the Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup truck expected to come to market in 2027.
Ford’s investment in Glendale, Kentucky includes converting its former battery manufacturing site into a large-scale producer of battery energy storage systems. The investment is expected to support annual production capacity of at least 20 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, with production beginning in late 2027.
The release notes that Ford’s roots in Kentucky date back to 1913, when the first Model T rolled off the production line in Louisville.
“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,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley in the release. “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 built right here in the United States.”
The release cites a study and a report that show Ford’s economic impact on the state.
According to the study, conducted by Boston Consulting Group and released in 2020, Ford contributes $11.7 billion annually to Kentucky’s gross domestic product. It also found that Ford, along with its suppliers and dealers, employs nearly 120,000 Kentucky residents.
According to the report, released in 2023 by University of Louisville Professor Thomas Lambert, Ford’s total economic impact in Kentucky exceeds $33 billion with vendors and suppliers.
Images
Featured image: Expedition manufacturing at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant (Provided by Ford)