Ford Motor Co. is making a bold bid to dominate the affordable electric vehicle market, announcing a $2 billion overhaul of its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The move will retool the facility to build a midsize electric pickup truck starting in 2027, with a target base price of about $30,000.
Chief Executive Jim Farley framed the investment as a “Model T moment” for the automaker, drawing parallels to the early 20th-century innovation that brought cars to the masses.
The redesigned plant will adopt a new “assembly tree” production system, replacing the traditional assembly line. The method is expected to cut production time by 15%, reduce parts by 20%, and require 40% fewer workstations, improving efficiency and lowering costs.
The truck will ride on Ford’s new Universal EV Platform, incorporating lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that double as structural components to save weight and reduce expense.
The investment will secure about 2,200 hourly jobs at the Louisville facility roughly 600 fewer than current staffing levels. Ford is also pouring $3 billion into its BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, aimed at boosting EV battery production. Combined, the projects are projected to create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs across both states.
The move positions Ford to better compete with low-cost EV producers such as BYD and Tesla by delivering feature-rich electric vehicles aimed at mainstream buyers.