Ford Upgrades Kentucky Truck Plant
As part of a huge retooling and expansion program at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant to accommodate the changes and improvements to the 2017 Ford Super Duty, the automaker will add 2,000 employees and invest $1.3 billion.
According to Automotive News, the huge growth spurt is largely due to the addition of a new body and paint shop for the Super Duty pickups and chassis cabs, but it is likely to also include production changes to the next-generation Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator full-size SUVs, which will probably use aluminum body panels at some point.
The 2017 Super Duty will benefit from many of the same aluminum body, cab and bed advantages that the Ford F-150 did when the all-new half-ton model was released for model-year 2015. However, while the half-ton model saved as much as 700 pounds per truck (when compared model to model), the new heavy-duty versions of the F-Series will save about 350 pounds due to a chassis and suspension that will be stronger and heavier than the one it's replacing. Those changes will provide the new HD truck with higher towing capacities and heavier payload capability.
The new Super Dutys are set to go on sale late in the third quarter of 2016 as long as the plant changeover stays on schedule. Automotive News reported the changeover will be faster and less disruptive than was the case for Ford's two F-150 plants, each of which experienced several weeks of downtime. That, of course, remains to be seen.
Super Duty models that roll off the Kentucky Truck Plant line include the F-250, F-350 and F-450 pickup trucks as well as the F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs; they account for about one-third of the total F-Series sales.
Manufacturer images
Comments
Ford, make sure the truck box sides don't Crack off the new SD's
I like the part where it says they'll add 2000 more employees. Get people working again!
"the automaker will add 2,000 employees and invest $1.3 billion."
Holy crap. I like THAT!
Still no story about the crooks at Ford teaming up with Toyota, just so they could stealing Toyota hybrid tech mmhmm.
"Toyota Motor Corp.'s powertrain chief says Ford Motor Co. didn't exactly steal Toyota's hallmark technology. But he insists his counterparts in Dearborn, Mich., milked the exchange for all they could before abruptly ending talks with Toyota's blueprints in hand. "
http://www.autonews.com/article/20151130/OEM06/311309971/acrimony-lingers-as-ford-toyota-go-solo-in-race-for-hybrid-pickups
Joe if Yota trusted Ford and got scammed that's their bad. There's no room for ooey gooey feelings and emotions in the dog eat dog truck business world
Man, BIg Al will need to invest in tissues, I can see the crying already!
Cudos to Ford, adding jobs and getting ready for the new aluminum HD's! Now thats Military grade!
I like the new Fords. They are groundbreaking state of the art work truck toughness. All the haters claiming otherwise need to get a reality check and crawl back out of their hopeless rabbit hole.
I'm not going to defend either auto company but just because you see some news article does not mean it has much truth to it. Ford has had hybrids out since 2007 I believe. Toyota longer. But Ford has been in hybrids a long time so they already have their own tech. The merger between Ford and Toyota might seem good on paper but nobody knows the actual specifics on what happened. It could have been cost, profit sharing, who knows. According to the link Ford has a lot of patents on hybrid technology. So it may have been better for the two to separate. Johnny dumb dumb remember Ford and GM already have joint ventures on several transmissions. That is going pretty good for both parties.
@ johnny doe:
Ford has been pulling tricks like this on its customers for years. Can you say Ford warrenty.
Maybe they can re-tool part of the plant for the Ranger, they are missing out on the mid-size segment.
Are those permanent jobs. Or just temporary construction jobs.
You wanna talk about screwing over other businesses?
Take a look at GM's bankruptcy... It alone removed them from BILLIONS in developmental costs and loans they had with Toyota not to mention all the other creditors, suppliers and taxpayers ultimately screwed to some degree or another regarding the ultimate arrangement.
Going bankrupt makes a little meet and great swap ideas party one comes out better than other seem normal for this business... which it is.
Love the investment especially domestically in people and facilities. Love the investment in the technology to meet CAFE while increasing capability and competitiveness.
When was the first, last, or anytime GM or Fiat made a truck that was signifcantly lighter AND more capable than its predecessor? Please provide make model previous and new weight and year...
"But Ford has been in hybrids a long time so they already have their own tech."
Like the C Max that Ford had to pay costumers back for fake MPG claims. Yeah that's some good tech Ford has there.
"But he insists his counterparts in Dearborn, Mich., milked the exchange for all they could before abruptly ending talks with Toyota's blueprints in hand. "
That's Ford tech, taking other peoples hard work.
Fk Over Rebuilt Dodge. Fords new hybrid line will be Fk Over Rebuilt Toyota.
Maybe some day Ford will be able to make something on their own
"When was the first, last, or anytime GM or Fiat made a truck that was signifcantly lighter AND more capable than its predecessor? Please provide make model previous and new weight and year..."
Never, because GM has been working on making their trucks lighter every gen since the 1980s. While Ford mostly ignored weight loss for 30 some years.
johnny doe :
I'm pretty sure the GM HD trucks of today are heavier than those from the 80s. There's a lot more that goes into making a truck that's more capable and meets safety and emissions regulations than what you are allowing for.
toyota needs ford's technology vs ford needing toyota technology to make hybrid pickups. Hybrid technology is very heavy and would push a normal 1/2 ton into 3/4 ton class and without fords advanced weight reduction technology. Toyota is running into they same thing as Nissan with there Titan hd in the ability to compete in the class that it falls into. Toyota won't be able to build a competive hybrid pickup without ford allowing access to there light weight technology.
I WONDER WHO STOLE MORE Trade SECRETS JAPAN OR
UNITED STATES
When Toyota first got into nascar They stole the top ford engineer by paying him an ungodly salary
I entered the work force in the early 80S and Japan was just like China is today
I rather push my Ford or GM than drive a rice burner
Lol, so the GM Trvlls are crying cuz Ford stole Technology, it was a joint venture. In addition, how about all the TAX payers money that GM stole.
I don't see you gloating about that, johnny dil doe
GM didn't steal money from the tax payers. The government sold shares at a loss like a bunch of retards.
What bout all the so called LOANS Ford hasn't paid back yet for green cars from the tax payers. All the green cars that came from every place but the US, and what was is the US is going to Mexico!
"GM didn't steal money from the tax payers. The government sold shares at a loss like a bunch of retards."
Stop fooling yourself, you said they sold it a loss, boy, you're an idiot, THEY STOLE IT!
"What bout all the so called LOANS Ford hasn't paid back yet for green cars from the tax payers. All the green cars that came from every place but the US, and what was is the US is going to Mexico!"
Ford is currently paying every single Loan back to Govt as we speak, none of this selling shares at a loss, YEAH REAL GOOD BUSINESS, THEN AGAIN, NOBODY WANTS GM STOCK.
Nice try dil doe
It's good that Ford is looking at more people to work.
But, the important aspect of this article is, will Ford sell more SuperDuty pickups?
Ford's current F-150 is employing more people to manufacture the same numbers. So, where are the costs hidden?
Since the relationship between the aluminium F-150 and SuperDutys have more commonality is some of the work being transferred from the other plants to the Kentucky plant?
Will Ford maintain the current number of workers in Detroit and Kansas City with the F-150?
"Automotive News reported the changeover will be faster and less disruptive than was the case for Ford's two F-150 plants, each of which experienced several weeks of downtime. That, of course, remains to be seen."
"Several weeks"? Try several MONTHS for each plant. They were staggered for that reason - Dearborn and Kansas City didn't have the benefit of time and room to build the aluminum body and paint shops ahead of time like Kentucky Truck will.
I've been a subscriber to Automotive News off and on for 35 years, and steadily for the last 15. They actually have reporters who go and get stories. PUTC parroting their articles days later just makes this site seem cheap in comparison.
It would appear the press release by Ford is indeed spun, but what else can you expect.
Ford is offering workers at the other pickup plants and opportunity first to move to Kentucky.
The shortfall will be made up of employing additional "locals".
Great job Ford. #1 all the way.
" PUTC parroting their articles days later just makes this site seem cheap in comparison." BARFO
Do us all a Favor and GTFO here.
That's the thing Frank! Ford isn't paying back these so called "loans" and all the "green cars" are from Europe and the rest going to Mexico! The US tax payer gave Ford money for Europe green cars while the rest is to be made in Mexico by 2019. Talk about screwing over the US tax payers!
RoadTrip the only way to get anything close to real news is Automotive News now. Mike Levine Truck Communications Manager at Ford Motor Company pulls the strings around here still. He ran this site back when Ford and Toyota joined to make a hybrid truck and ran a story bout it! Now he's with Ford there is no bad news about Ford here! He Mike Levine won't let the truth be told bout Ford trucks! Ford has stole tons of other peoples hard work, not just Toyota's!
Ford is and has made there payment on there doe loans as scheduled. I think 2022 is there final payment.
BiGal - any retooling for a new truck is going to cost money. Your aluminum foil hat conspiracy theories are laughable at best.
Will Ford sell more HD's?
Companies don't go through major redesigns on the premise that they will sell less.
You should hang out with Johnie dose or maybe you already do.
dil doe,
shut up, just shut up, you literally sound like a 4th grader, damn you're annoying.
@Lou_BC,
I think BARFO is johnny dil doe, but with glasses.
Yes that Johnny is very annoying. Giving a status of a 4th grader seems to be giving him to much credit. It seems like his life ambitions are to look up every article on the internet about Ford. He needs to shut up and do his homework.
LOL what wrong Frank? The truth is being told and the only thing you got is name calling, sounds pretty first grade to me. Sorry its the truth Ford hasn't put a dent back in their LOANS. Its hello US tax payers thank you for the free ride, and welcome to the Europe/Mexico Ford car.
Dan G I just read the news every day, not my fault Ford makes the news just about every day for stealing peoples work or lieing.
ok johnny, prove it. Lets see 4 links for the past 2 weeks about Ford lying (see how I spelled that correctly 4th grader) and stealing peoples work. you know because you read the news everyday. AKA searching for Ford articles everyday.
Dan G Only one story this week, which I posted above. Ford stole Toyota's hybrid tech, but if you want four links to it to cry over then okay first grader.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20151130/OEM06/311309971/acrimony-lingers-as-ford-toyota-go-solo-in-race-for-hybrid-pickups
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/12/02/the-ford-toyota-hybrid-truck-that-never-was-yet/
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/12/ford-and-toyota-race-toward-hybrid-pickup-on-solo-paths.html
http://4wheels.org/news/after-a-bad-breakup-ford-and-toyota-race-for-hybrid-pickups/
http://www.toyoheadquarters.com/threads/toyota-ford-go-solo-in-race-for-hybrid-pickups-acrimony-lingers.503/
There is five links Dan G AKA Frank. Now go cry me a river first grader.
Wow johnny I guess you are more closely to the level of a 1st grader. Posting 5 of the same stories does not quite cut it. That is like saying GM has a butt load of recalls because multiple sites are posting the same recall. Epic fail, try again.
Holy cow Johnny Dumb Dumb. Did you really say Ford has all these negative fraud articles almost EVERY DAY and just post links for the same story on multiple websites. WOW, all time low there Dumb Dumb. LMAO
I am happy that Ford is bringing in more jobs. I hope the super duty does well!
As for Ford moving production to Mexico.... well I that really sucks... but this is what we get with a free trade agreement with a country with substantially less wages then the US or even Canada.
GM has been investing BILLIONS of dollars in Mexico.. they are moving the cruze production there other then the cruzes for the US and Canadian Market. But you know in time they will just close that Ohio plant and move it all to Mexico.
It does suck that some jobs are moving to Mexico but it seems other are opening up soon for the Ranger and Bronco if that goes through. GM got a bail out deal on cheaper wages for some of their UAW workers that helps keep jobs here. Would have been nice to see if that was across the board with other manufactures. Kinda hard to make a profit when expenses are higher than income. I am eager to see the specs on the new superduty. But there has to be a limit on what a class 3 truck is rated for.
There was nothing wrong with the C-Max itself just that Ford overstated its fuel efficiency. I have access to a C-Max in our fleet cars and it is nice. The C-Max sits higher than a regular car, has good headroom and leg room, large windows with good visibility, very smooth and comfortable, and the back seat can be folded down with lots of room for hauling. If I were shopping for a new vehicle especially a crossover, the C-Max would be at the top of my list. Now you can get decent discount on them since the fuel prices are down and larger vehicles are selling better.
As for the new F-250's I reserve judgement till they come out. My nephews bought a 2006 extended cab 4 x 4 F-250 at a company auction 4 years ago for 7k as a farm truck. It has been a very good truck and serves their purpose well since they do not permanently live on the farm but stay a few times a year. The F-250 always starts and is great for going out in the fields with the 4 wheel drive. It has a work box instead of a bed. The truck had over 150k miles when they bought it but it had been well maintained by the company. It has a gas V-8 instead of the Power Stroke.
Lou,
We will see.
My aluminium theory or whatever you term it is right on.
Ford has dropped against the other Big Three.
The only way Ford can move the aluminium off the lots is with big incentives to keep them competitive with the older trucks.
Ford should of made a game changer with the aluminium F-150. It didn't achieve this.
The aluminium SuperDutys will encounter the same or even more push back.
The aluminium SuperDutys now have the XD Titan to contend with. Even if the Titan only sells 3-5 000 XD's a month this will impact Ford. Add this to the very conservative HD investor and you will have a double whammy.
Ford is very reliant on it's HDs to lay the golden eggs as it represents a large portion or possibly over half of Ford's F Series profits.
Big Al from Oz - there are multiple factors that affect sales.
-New truck jitters.
There will always be the first on the bandwagon but truck buyers tend to be conservative and most familiar with domestic trucks know to wait a year or two for bugs to be sorted out. Lock at Ram. They are the oldest truck now and durability is improving.
- Looks.
Not everyone was a fan of the looks of the last F150 and the new one has a more pronounced snout. I don't like the look of the 2015 snout.
- Aluminum repair or durability fears.
Perhaps.
- Incentive driven market.
Ford did not start out with aggressive incentives. We all know that the truck market is driven by them. Consumers expect them.
- Reported assembly line and material delays.
Those are well known and easy to verify.
- Competition.
GM trucks were sluggish at first and have gained steam. The could be just returning to traditional sales numbers i.e. larger 1/2 ton sales numbers than Ford.
****You are fixated upon one piece of the puzzle.*****
Yes Lou, I agree.
I've been stating this for some time.
But, the impact of each of these variables only affect a small percentage of consumers. But, in total they do have a larger affect.
This has been my position with the aluminium pickups.
The other issue you haven't mentioned is the lack of progress in refinement in the pickup and other areas of engine/drivetrain combos that didn't offer the savings from aluminium, ie, FE gains. I do believe the lack of larger FE gains also has had an impact.
I do believe that Ford could of made a much better pickup.
The global Colorado has had a similar issue as the aluminium F-150. The US Colorado is much in front in refinement, but the global Colorado didn't refine the vehicle as well as they could of.
And now you see the global Colorado is not performing nowhere as well as the Ranger. It is one of the poorer selling utes here. Because GM didn't put the effort into fine tuning the vehicle. This is for two reasons, first the GFC restricted the amount of money available $2.5 billion (2009 dollars) vs $3.5 billion (2007 dollars) for the Ranger. Even VW used $3 billion to develop the Amarok.
Ford expended so much of it's resources in developing the F-150 I do think Ford had to draw a line one how far to go in it's development. I'd say future F-150's will have room for quite large improvments.
Lou,
The second reason was the global Colorado would of been it's viewed more for the global consumer, which believe it or not don't have the refinement in vehicles we have. So, I think GM's view was this is good enough for Thailand.
I did read we were supposed to have a variant of the US Colorado this year. But I have yet to hear anymore regarding this.
Lou,
We will see.
My aluminium theory or whatever you term it is right on.
Ford has dropped against the other Big Three.
The only way Ford can move the aluminium off the lots is with big incentives to keep them competitive with the older trucks.
Ford should of made a game changer with the aluminium F-150. It didn't achieve this.
The aluminium SuperDutys will encounter the same or even more push back.
The aluminium SuperDutys now have the XD Titan to contend with. Even if the Titan only sells 3-5 000 XD's a month this will impact Ford. Add this to the very conservative HD investor and you will have a double whammy.
Ford is very reliant on it's HDs to lay the golden eggs as it represents a large portion or possibly over half of Ford's F Series profits.
Posted by: Big Al from Oz | Dec 4, 2015 1:16:58 AM
I do not see how you can say Ford has dropped against the big 3. Ford has sold 15K more units this year with a new model introduction. Last year chevy struggled with its introduction but offered huge discounts early on. This year GM has been very successful bringing in new truck buyers. It is evident by yearly increase in truck sales over the few years more and more trucks are being sold every year. Everyone has increased their sales, GM just increased by a larger percentage. Time will tell for next year on the 2nd model year. What Ford has to do is determine why their sales increase is not as high as GM and perform necessary actions. For one I do not see it as people are afraid of aluminum. Some may be but I doubt that is really the case. It may be due to powertrain options but if someone wants a V8 the 5.0L is available as an option. In fact its performance is very similar to the Fiat 5.7L and better than GMs 5.3L. The 6.2L is a beast.
I saw on the Louisville KY news that Ford is hiring 2000 new workers for the truck plant. It sure looks like it is going to cost Ford more money to build their new pickup.
@Lou, BAFO - I can speak on the repair side of aluminum, as I've spoken to several body shops on this very subject.
The body techs are paid the exact same rate to repair aluminum as steel.
The body techs also provide their own tools. We're talking mostly a separate set of hammers, dollies, and other basic tools. Not a big deal.
Certainly not the big deal Ford's competition has made it out to be.
GM especially spent millions, probably over a billion dollars to counter the new F-150 with an all-out media campaign to steer/scare buyers away.
It seems to be working to a degree.
That's where Ford really came short. Not nearly enough to counter GM's slamming ads.
Except it's clear to see, it's hardly worth it to spend too much promoting an F-150 that could not meet demand anyway.
It's clear insurance premiums have yet to increase for the aluminum F-150.
Also, major repairs to the aluminum F-150 are simplified with structural cab pieces that unbolt for the 1st time ever.
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