Ford Spends $1.3B on Super Duty Plant in Kentucky So You Don't Have To Wait Again

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Ford announced Tuesday that it would spend $1.3 billion to retool, update and build a new body shop for its Louisville, Kentucky plant, which produces its Super Duty truck and large SUVs.

The announced spending, which will create 2,000 jobs at the plant, is part of Ford’s new contract with the United Auto Workers — and part of the automaker’s last deal with the UAW, according to Automotive News.

The investment will create an all-new body shop for the aluminum-bodied truck scheduled to go on sale late next year. With an all-new shop, production of the outgoing truck can continue while the new shop gets online, which could help the automaker avoid another shortage when the redesigned truck hits dealers.

This year, Ford had smaller F-150 inventories than normal because its Dearborn, Michigan and Kansas City facilities were closed as the automaker retooled for the next generation, aluminum bodied, light-duty pickup. Ford said its inventories didn’t fully recover until late in the second quarter of 2015.

Ford said the $1.3 billion investment will add to its $80 million investment at the truck plant in 2014 and a $129 million investment at nearby Louisville Assembly, which produces the Lincoln MKC and Ford Escape.

“Adding new jobs and more investment at Kentucky Truck Plant not only secures a solid foundation for our UAW members, but also strengthens the communities in which they live, work and play,” Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president said in a statement. “Such success highlights our members’ hard work and dedication to building world-class, quality vehicles like the Super Duty.”

According to WDRB in Louisville, workers at the Kentucky Truck Plant two weeks ago rejected the latest deal with the automaker by 2-to-1.


Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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 12 comments
  • Carlson Fan Carlson Fan on Dec 01, 2015

    Being in a state that heavily salts its roads during winter, I'm all for aluminum bodied PU trucks. I didn't realize Ford was also going that route with their new HD model. Good for them.

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    • Drzhivago138 Drzhivago138 on Dec 01, 2015

      @Big Al from Oz Definitely. Full-size pickups hit the "ceiling" in width back in the early '60s at 78-80", and I think they have maybe hit the limits in other dimensions too. Ford did a good job at holding on to the 1999 Super Duty cab for over 15 years, but GM and Ram have saved a lot of trouble not having to produce 2 seperate bodies for the 1/2-ton and HDs.

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Dec 01, 2015

    I don't see frame rust as a big issue in the part of British Columbia where I live. My 2010 F150 has been fine so far. I had an F250 for 15 years and no issues. I suspect once again we seen our Australian friend continuing on with his anti-Ford anti-aluminum commentary.

  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
  • B-BodyBuick84 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport of course, a 7 seater, 2.4 turbo-diesel I4 BOF SUV with Super-Select 4WD, centre and rear locking diffs standard of course.
  • Corey Lewis Think how dated this 80s design was by 1995!
  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
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