Ford Motor Co. Reaffirms Commitment to Louisville With $1 Billion Investment at Kentucky Truck Plant
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2026) – Today, Ford Motor Company reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Louisville and Kentucky with the announcement of plans to build a new $1 billion state-of-the-art paint shop at the Kentucky Truck Plant, replacing the facility’s existing paint shop and further modernizing Ford’s largest U.S. manufacturing plant. The company plans to break ground on the project by the end of 2026.
“Louisville is America’s home for advanced manufacturing, and Ford just announced that it’s not just staying in Louisville, it’s going all in,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Ford’s announcement today is a vote of confidence in our city and shows the world that Louisville is an incredible place to grow a business. We’re proud to be Ford’s partner as they build the future of American manufacturing in Louisville.”
The announcement builds on Ford’s recent investments across the commonwealth, including approximately $2 billion for the transformation of the Louisville Assembly Plant into the future home of Ford’s new Universal EV Platform and approximately $2 billion at Ford Energy Systems in Glendale, which will manufacture battery energy storage systems. The Kentucky Truck Assembly plant in Louisville is Ford’s largest and most profitable U.S. manufacturing plant, where a truck 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. “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.”
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. The company’s extensive presence in Kentucky includes more than 11,500 employees, with the commonwealth also home to over 6,000 Ford retirees. 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 its employees live and work.
“From our past to our present and our future, Ford is a central part of Kentucky’s story, which continues to show the world that American manufacturing remains strong,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Today’s announcement highlights Ford’s longstanding commitment to our state and to our workforce, and I am grateful to Bill Ford, Jim Farley and the entire Ford team for this investment. With announcements like this and the help of the dedicated Kentuckians who make the Kentucky Truck Plant a success, I know our future is bright.”
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 2023 report by University of Louisville Professor Thomas Lambert, Ford’s total economic impact in Kentucky exceeds $33 billion with vendors and suppliers.
The Louisville Assembly Plant is currently undergoing a significant transformation as well, including the installation of Ford’s new Universal EV Production System. The investment will support production of the Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup truck expected to launch in 2027. The project is anticipated to create approximately 2,200 jobs in Louisville while transforming the facility into one of Ford’s most advanced and flexible EV manufacturing plants.
In addition, 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 an annual production capacity of at least 20 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, with production beginning in late 2027.
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.
To encourage investment and job retention in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June approved an amendment to a supplemental project under an existing Kentucky Jobs Retention Act (KJRA) program agreement with the company. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $578 million in cumulative tax incentives based on the company’s total cumulative investment of $7.55 billion across the original and supplemental KJRA projects, with an annual job target requirement of up to 12,000 over the term of the agreement.
For more information on Ford, visit Ford.com.
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