Ford revamps Louisville plant to launch $30,000 midsize electric pickup

Ford is closing a 113‑year‑old assembly line at its Louisville, Kentucky plant and replacing the traditional moving conveyor with a new “assembly tree” under its Universal EV Production System. The change is intended to cut build time, reduce part count and lower costs.

The retooling, part of a nearly $2 billion investment, will allow the plant to produce the first vehicle built on Ford’s Universal EV Platform – a midsize electric pickup slated for 2027 with a target starting price of about $30,000. The truck will use a lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery, fewer fasteners and a shorter wiring harness.

Prototypes have already been seen testing in Arizona and California, and two camouflaged models were photographed charging at a Tesla Supercharger using a native NACS port, the first for a Ford vehicle. The company says the pickup will offer five‑seat space, a front trunk and a range of at least 300 miles.