Ford Invests $900 Million in Kentucky Truck Plant, Adds 1,000 Jobs
Additional resources will be used to build all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models.
Once again, Ford is investing big bucks in its Kentucky Truck Plant. This time to prepare for production of the all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The company announced that they would be spending $900 million on upgrades for the plant. In addition to retooling the facility, the move that also secures 1,000 hourly jobs.
This latest investment comes on the heels of a $1.3 billion dollar investment at the same location back in 2015. That previous move resulted in the creation of 2,000 new jobs. Ford employs nearly 7,600 full-time hourly workers at the Kentucky plant, a number that contributes to their industry leading U.S. based hourly workforce. Additionally, Ford builds more vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker.
In addition to U.S. sales, Ford plans to export the new Expedition and Navigator models to more than 55 global markets. Both go on sale later this fall. Currently, no other automaker exports more vehicles than Ford. Regardless of where they sell them, however, Ford is poised to take advantage of the world-wide, red-hot SUV market.
“Large SUVs are attracting a new generation around the world – and we’re finding new ways to deliver the capability, versatility and technology that customers around the world really want with our all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford executive vice president and president, Global Operations.
This latest Kentucky Truck Plant investment comes as Ford also prepares to upgrade its Michigan Assembly Plant. In mid-2018, Ford plans to convert its Dearborn-based facility to produce the all-new mid-size Ranger pickup in 2018 and the Bronco SUV in 2020.
