Ford to Invest $1 Billion in Advanced Paint Shop at Kentucky Truck Plant

Ford Motor Company has announced a significant $1 billion investment to construct a new state-of-the-art paint shop at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. This initiative is designed to replace the existing facility and further modernize the site, which stands as Ford’s largest and highest-revenue manufacturing plant in the United States, known for its high-output assembly line where a vehicle is produced every 45 seconds.

Groundbreaking for the project is expected by the end of this year, marking a key step in Ford’s strategy to enhance its manufacturing infrastructure. The investment will support the integration of Ford’s Universal EV Production System currently being installed at the Louisville Assembly Plant, enabling the production of the Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup scheduled for launch in 2027.

This development is projected to create or secure approximately 2,200 jobs in Louisville, transforming the facility into a cornerstone of Ford’s advanced and flexible electric vehicle manufacturing operations. Ford’s economic impact in Kentucky is substantial, exceeding $33 billion through its network of vendors and suppliers, and the company remains the state’s largest automaker with over 11,500 employees.

In parallel, Ford has recently allocated around $2 billion to upgrade the Louisville Assembly Plant for its Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. Additionally, the company plans to invest $2 billion in Ford Energy Systems in Glendale, Kentucky, to repurpose a former battery manufacturing site into a major producer of battery energy storage systems. This project is expected to generate at least 2,100 new jobs and achieve an annual production capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours, with operations commencing in late 2027.

On the financial markets, Ford shares were trading at $13.93 on the NYSE, up 0.36 percent in overnight trading.

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