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Ford expands EV push with Kentucky overhaul
Ford will retool the Louisville plant to build affordable EVs, creating about 2,200 jobs and aiming for a 2027 pickup launch.
Ford plans a major retooling of the Louisville plant to build affordable electric vehicles, aiming to cut costs and strengthen its standing in the US EV market.
Ford accelerates EV push with $2 billion Kentucky plant overhaul
Ford Motor Co. will invest nearly $2 billion to retool its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky to build electric vehicles. The first EV from the revamped facility is planned for 2027, a midsize four door pickup intended for domestic and international markets. The company says it will use a universal platform and an assembly tree to cut parts and speed up production, part of a broader effort to make EVs cheaper to build and more affordable for buyers. The Michigan battery plant will also receive about $3 billion in investment, and Ford expects the two sites to together create or secure nearly 4,000 direct jobs.
The Louisville project targets a leaner, faster factory floor. Ford says parts could drop by 20 percent, fasteners by 25 percent, and workstation docks by 40 percent, with assembly time about 15 percent faster. The truck is targeted to start at roughly $30,000 and the company plans to produce a lineup of affordable EVs at scale. Farley and other executives emphasize this as a turning point for U.S. manufacturing, built on modern methods rather than a single new model.
Key Takeaways
"This represents the most radical change on how we design and how we build vehicles at Ford since the Model-T."
Farley describing the strategic shift in Ford’s production
"We’re not in a race to build the most electric cars. We’re in a race to have a sustainable electric business that’s profitable, that customers love."
Farley clarifying the company’s EV goals
"This is an example of us rejuvenating our U S plants with the most modern manufacturing techniques."
Ford executive commenting on plant modernization
"This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky’s position at the center of EV-related innovation."
Governor Beshear commenting on the investment
Ford is betting big on a manufacturing overhaul to change how it makes EVs, not just what it makes. The universal platform aims to slash complexity and bring prices down, but profitability depends on steady demand and favorable economics for batteries and components. The plan comes with the risk that subsidies and policy signals could shift, affecting the economics of an affordable EV strategy. Still, Ford’s emphasis on domestic jobs and a faster, leaner assembly process signals a strategic shift toward scalable, repeatable EV production. The move also places Kentucky at the center of a broader national push to rebuild the U.S. auto supply chain around electric vehicles.
Highlights
- A Model T moment for Ford's EV push
- We are rejuvenating our U S plants with the most modern manufacturing techniques
- We’re not in a race to build the most electric cars we’re in a race to have a sustainable electric business that’s profitable
- This Louisville plant will show the world what affordable EVs can be
Political and budget risk around EV incentives
The plan relies on a favorable policy and subsidy environment at federal and state levels. Changes to EV credits or tax incentives could affect demand and the project’s profitability. Public and political scrutiny of subsidies, as well as potential shifts in investment priorities, add risk to the plan.
The test will be whether lean manufacturing translates into real savings and steady demand for affordable EVs.
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