Ford investing $25 million in Louisville plant. Here’s what it’s for.
Ford Motor Co. is increasing production of the large SUVs Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, it announced.
It is increasing production targets by 25 percent and adding another $25 million in factory improvements, Ford said. No new employees are currently planned. Workers are working overtime and voluntary weekend shifts.
The extra $25 million investment has gone into 400 new robots, a 3D printer to create parts and a data analytics center, according to a report in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The plant employs 8,400 hourly and salaried workers.
Joe Hinrichs, president of global operations at Ford Motor Co., on Friday took a group of journalists from Detroit to Louisville to visit the plant. The Navigators being sold are trending toward the higher trim levels, and an average price of $77,400. The vehicles are particularly popular in Texas, Florida and California.
Hinrichs called the Navigator “aces in the snow.”
The Platinum version of the Expedition, which held 29 percent of sales, went for $57,700 in January, up $7,800.
The Louisville plant made 400,000 vehicles in 2017.
Cheryl Truman: 859-231-3202, @CherylTruman
This story was originally published February 12, 2018 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Ford investing $25 million in Louisville plant. Here’s what it’s for.."