Automaker bets $2 billion on Louisville EV plant

Ford plans a $2 billion investment to build a low cost midsize electric pickup in Louisville with a 2027 launch as part of a broader domestic EV push.

Automaker bets $2 billion on Louisville EV plant

Ford announced a $2 billion investment to expand the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and add production for a low cost electric pickup. The move is paired with a separate $3 billion plan for a battery park in Michigan, and Ford says the facilities will create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs. The new vehicle is described as a midsize, four door electric pickup and will be produced under Ford’s Universal EV Program, with a target launch in 2027. Ford also highlighted that the starting price will be about $30,000 and that lithium iron phosphate batteries for the new family will be assembled in the United States rather than imported from China. Executives signaled the plan during the company’s earnings call, calling it a next Model T moment.

The company emphasizes domestic manufacturing and a US based battery supply chain as core to the strategy, aiming to broaden access to EVs beyond early adopters. The announcement frames the investment as a path to cheaper, more versatile EVs while maintaining a U.S. driven manufacturing footprint, a point Ford stresses as part of its commitment to American workers.

This push reflects a broader shift in the EV market toward affordability and scale. By aiming for a $30,000 price point, Ford is targeting a level that could broaden buyer interest beyond early adopters and fleets. The choice of US assembled batteries and a domestic battery park reduces exposure to international supply chain shocks, but it also concentrates execution risk on rapid ramp and cost discipline. The strategy relies on achieving economies of scale quickly and maintaining margins in a market where competitors are pursuing both premium and mass market models. If demand materializes as forecast, Ford may reshape competitive dynamics and press rivals to accelerate price cuts and content for value seekers.

Highlights

The path to affordable EVs will be tested by cost, scale, and the ability to deliver on promises.