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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Ford Plans Production Increase at Louisville, Kentucky, Assembly Plant

03/20/2019
Ford increasing production of Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator this summer by 20 percent at its Truck Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. The company plans to add 550 jobs.

According to the automaker, expedition retail sales increased 35 percent in 2018 and its market segment share gained 5.6 percentage points, while from the 2017 to 2018 model year, average transaction pricing grew by $11,700 to $62,700; Navigator sales increased 70 percent in 2018, its best year since 2007.

Ford is also moving approximately 550 associates from its Louisville Assembly Plant to increase Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator production by 20 percent. Vehicle production will increase after the summer shutdown in July.

“Kentucky Truck Plant is home to two of Ford and Lincoln’s most successful vehicles,” said John Savona, Ford Vice President, North American Manufacturing. “After seeing a continued increase in customer demand for Expedition and Navigator, we are boosting production for a second time to meet it.”

The company said it added more workstations and split up some tasks to ensure employees can complete jobs with quality craftsmanship and in the time allotted. The plant team also had to get creative in its use of space, adding pits and platforms so more line operators working in the same area can execute tasks while complying with varying height requirements as the vehicle moves down the assembly line.

“We ‘out-big’ the competition where it counts. towing, interior space and technology,” said Matt VanDyke, Ford Director, U.S. Marketing. “Our team completely rethought every inch of Expedition, and its growing sales reaffirm we hit the sweet spot with today’s full-size SUV customers. Now, our new ‘Better Big’ marketing campaign will bring this to life for new buyers.”

“Expedition is winning with a whole new group of customers, first-time homeowners who are starting new families, including the oldest Millennials,” said VanDyke. “These customers crave roominess, capability and technology that make their lives easier, attributes that can only be found in the Ford Expedition.”

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