Ford Motor Company announced plans to invest approximately $5 billion in its U.S. operations to support the launch of a new electric vehicle platform, updated manufacturing processes, and a midsize electric pickup. The initiative will involve work at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, creating or securing nearly 4,000 jobs across both facilities.
The Louisville Assembly Plant will produce the company’s first vehicle on the new Ford Universal EV Platform, a midsize four-door electric truck targeted to start at about $30,000. The model is scheduled to reach customers in 2027 and will be built for both U.S. and export markets. Detailed specifications, including range, battery sizes, and charging information, will be announced at a later date.
The Ford Universal EV Platform is designed to reduce complexity and production time. According to the company, it uses 20 percent fewer parts, 25 percent fewer fasteners, and requires 40 percent fewer workstations compared to a typical vehicle. The wiring harness will be shorter and lighter than previous electric models, and the cobalt- and nickel-free prismatic lithium iron phosphate battery pack will also serve as the vehicle’s floor, helping save space and weight while improving handling and cabin quietness.
The vehicle will be produced using the new Ford Universal EV Production System. This process replaces the traditional single-line assembly with an “assembly tree” approach, in which three sub-assemblies—the front, rear, and structural battery—are built separately before being joined together. Large single-piece aluminum castings replace multiple smaller parts, and parts are delivered to workers in kits that include all necessary tools and components in proper orientation. Ford estimates the process could be up to 40 percent faster than current methods, with an overall 15 percent speed improvement after reinvesting some time into quality control and automation.
Ford will invest nearly $2 billion in the Louisville Assembly Plant to prepare for the new model, supported by incentives from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. This investment will expand the facility by 52,000 square feet, upgrade digital infrastructure for more quality scans, and secure 2,200 hourly jobs.
At BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, Ford will produce the prismatic LFP batteries for the truck starting next year, as part of a previously announced $3 billion investment. Combined, the two projects total about $5 billion.
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