Ford Announces $1 Billion Kentucky Plant Investment Amid Dispute

Ford Motor Co. announced a $1 billion investment to build a new paint shop at its Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, with groundbreaking expected by the end of 2026. The announcement, made on September 10, 2026, comes amid a public dispute with the Trump administration over the automaker's ties to Chinese companies. The new facility will replace the existing paint shop at the plant, which Ford describes as its largest and highest-revenue U.S. manufacturing site. The Kentucky Truck Plant produces F-Series Super Duty pickups, Ford Expedition SUVs, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, with a vehicle rolling off the assembly line every 45 seconds. The upgraded technology is intended to improve paint quality, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Ford CEO Jim Farley stated, "For more than a century, Ford and Kentucky have grown together, and we're investing to ensure that relationship remains strong for generations to come." The company noted the plant employs more than 11,500 workers. The investment follows a letter sent by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Farley on September 3, 2026, accusing Ford of "actively intertwining its future with Chinese state-backed enterprises.