Announcement builds on $2 billion investment at Louisville Assembly Plant and $2 billion investment at Ford Energy in Glendale
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted major growth within Kentucky’s automotive industry as Ford Motor Co. announced 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.
“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 Gov. 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.”
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 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.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg welcomed Ford’s continued growth in the community: “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,” Greenberg said. “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 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.
Ford’s investment and job creation furthers what has been the best six-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced nearly 1,400 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $54 billion in announced investments, creating approximately 71,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $33 billion more than the next highest total.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the battery capital of the United States: AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville, as well as its $2 billion, 2,100-job project at the Kentucky 1 plant in Hardin County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County, among others.
The Governor announced Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $51.6 billion in exports in 2025, representing a 7.65% increase over 2024.
Unemployment rates fell in all 120 counties between December 2024 and December 2025.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
In addition, Kentucky has secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2025 Governor’s Cup rankings. In June, Area Development magazine awarded the commonwealth a Silver Shovel designation in its 2025 Shovel Awards, which highlight states for attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
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.
A detailed community profile for Jefferson County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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