Ford Motor Company is set to spend nearly $2 billion converting its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky into an electric vehicle (EV) production hub, marking a major shift after seven decades of making petrol-powered models there.Speaking to workers on Monday, CEO Jim Farley called the project a once-in-a-career moment. “In our careers, as automobile people, we’re lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two, projects that really change the face of our industry. And I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here,” he said, according to news agency AP.The revamped plant will first roll out a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck in 2027 for both US and global markets. Ford says the model will seat five adults, accelerate from 0–60 mph as quickly as a Mustang EcoBoost, and use lower-cost batteries made at a $3 billion Michigan factory. Farley described it as a “Model T moment” for Ford’s EVs, signalling the most radical manufacturing change since Henry Ford’s original assembly line.The Louisville site will adopt a new “assembly tree” layout, with three subassembly lines feeding into the final build. Ford says this will cut parts by 20%, use 25% fewer fasteners, reduce workstations by 40%, and speed up assembly by 15%. Ford aims to produce EVs that are both affordable, with a targeted starting price of about $30,000 and profitable. As per the company, this plant will help in securing 2,200 hourly jobs.Governor Andy Beshear hailed the move and said, “This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky’s position at the centre of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Ford’s future”.Combined with the Michigan battery plant, Ford’s $5 billion investment is expected to secure or create nearly 4,000 jobs.Farley was quoted by AP as saying that the company chose to build in Kentucky rather than overseas to “take the fight to our competition,” including Chinese manufacturers. “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,” he said, adding that the new truck would outclass anything available from China.However, he acknowledged risks. “There are no guarantees… The automotive industry has a graveyard littered with affordable vehicles launched in our country with all good intentions… And at Ford, we set out to break that cycle.”
