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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Ford Makes $129 Million Investment At Its Louisville, Kentucky, Assembly Plant

08/26/2014
Ford Motor Company will make a $129 million investment and hire of 300 additional employees at its Louisville, Kentucky, Assembly Plant to support production of the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC.

Production of Lincoln’s newest vehicle began in May. MKC is the second of four all-new Lincoln vehicles being introduced by 2016, and will go on sale in China, along with the MKZ sedan, when the Lincoln brand debuts there later this year.

“Lincoln MKC is an important part of Lincoln as it attracts a new luxury customer,” said Daryl Sykes, Plant Manager, Louisville Assembly Plant. “To have the opportunity to build an all-new vehicle – the first small utility ever from Lincoln – is very exciting for the hardworking men and women at Louisville Assembly Plant.”

At Louisville Assembly Plant, each MKC receives an enhanced inspection at five separate points by a two-person team to ensure fit-and-finish, craftsmanship and functional elements meet premium customer expectations. This attention helps to deliver a vehicle that is as close to perfection as possible so dealers can then provide a true luxury experience in the showroom.

In 2010, Ford invested $600 million in Louisville Assembly Plant to transform it into a modern, flexible facility with tooling and facility upgrades in its final assembly area and body shop. This transformation allows for the production of multiple vehicle models at the same time, without requiring downtime for tooling changeover – making Louisville Assembly Plant one of the company’s most flexible plants in the world.

Because Louisville can build various vehicles at the same time, Ford Motor Company can more quickly meet demand should changing economic conditions or other events result in shifting customer preferences.

“The UAW and Ford remain steadfast in our commitment to Louisville with the addition of Lincoln MKC to Louisville Assembly Plant’s production line,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW Vice President, National Ford Department. “The 300 new jobs add to the plant’s 4,600 UAW team members – a fantastic feat enabled through the collective bargaining between the UAW and Ford to support U.S. manufacturing.”

With the addition of the 300 employees, Ford is more than 75 percent of the way toward its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015. The new $129 million investment is also helping to support more than 110 suppliers across the United States including 17 in the commonwealth of Kentucky, according to state economic development officials.

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