Ford Deepens Commitment to Kentucky with New Investment in Manufacturing Growth

Ford Motor Company today reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Kentucky with the announcement of plans to build a new $1 billion state-of-the-art paint shop at Kentucky Truck Plant, replacing the facility’s existing paint shop and further modernizing one of Ford’s most important manufacturing operations. Groundbreaking is expected 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. 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.

“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 Jim Farley, Ford President and CEO. 

Kentucky Truck Plant remains a cornerstone of Ford’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. 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.

Ford's success as Kentucky’s largest auto manufacturer is powered by more than 11,500 employees who help drive the company’s quality achievements, manufacturing leadership and continued growth. Ford’s roots in Kentucky date back to 1913, when the first Model T rolled off the production line in Louisville. Kentucky is also home to over 6,000 Ford retirees. 

According to a 2020 study conducted by Boston Consulting Group, Ford contributes $11.7 billion annually to Kentucky’s GDP and nearly 120,000 people in Kentucky are employed by Ford and its suppliers and dealers. According to a report by University of Louisville Professor Thomas Lambert, Ford’s total economic impact in Kentucky exceeds $33 billion with vendors and suppliers.

Louisville Assembly Plant is currently undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history, including the installation of Ford’s new Universal EV Production System. The investment will support production of the Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup expected to launch in 2027. The project is anticipated to create or secure approximately 2,200 jobs in Louisville while transforming the facility into one of Ford's most advanced and flexible EV manufacturing plants.

Ford's $2 billion investment in the future of Ford Energy plans to convert the former battery manufacturing site in Glendale, Kentucky, into a large-scale producer of battery energy storage systems. The investment is expected to create at least 2,100 new jobs and support annual production capacity of at least 20 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, with production beginning in late 2027.

Beyond its manufacturing facilities, Ford and its employees are committed to supporting local organizations, educational programs, environmental efforts and community initiatives, helping to strengthen the vitality of the communities where our employees live and work.

That commitment will be celebrated during the upcoming Kentucky Truck Plant Family Open House on Sept. 13, where employees and their families will have an opportunity to see firsthand the people, products and innovations driving Ford forward.