Ford Motor Company F is reinforcing its long-term presence in Kentucky with plans to invest $1 billion in a new state-of-the-art paint shop at the Kentucky Truck Plant. The new facility will replace the plant’s existing paint shop and further modernize one of Ford’s key manufacturing operations. Construction is expected to begin by the end of this year.
The planned investment adds to Ford’s recent commitments across Kentucky, including roughly $2 billion to transform the Louisville Assembly Plant into a manufacturing hub for the company’s new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform and another $2 billion investment in Ford Energy Systems in Glendale, which will produce battery energy storage systems. Located in Louisville, the Kentucky Truck Plant is Ford’s largest plant by size and revenues, with a vehicle rolling off its assembly line approximately every 45 seconds.
Ford’s presence in Kentucky dates back to 1913, when the first Model T was produced in Louisville. A 2020 study by Boston Consulting Group estimated that Ford contributes $11.7 billion annually to Kentucky’s GDP. Meanwhile, a 2023 report by University of Louisville Professor Thomas Lambert estimated Ford’s total economic impact on the state at more than $33 billion, including its network of suppliers and vendors.
Louisville Assembly Plant is currently undergoing a major transformation, highlighted by the installation of Ford’s new Universal EV Production System. The investment will enable production of the Ford Fathom, a midsize electric pickup expected to launch in 2027. The project is expected to create or secure approximately 2,200 jobs while converting the facility into one of Ford’s most advanced and flexible EV manufacturing plants.
Ford’s $2 billion investment in Ford Energy will transform the former battery manufacturing site in Glendale into a large-scale battery energy storage systems facility. The project is expected to create at least 2,100 jobs and provide annual production capacity of at least 20 gigawatt-hours, with production scheduled to begin in late 2027.
Kentucky Truck Plant remains a critical part of Ford’s manufacturing network, producing vehicles such as the F-Series Super Duty pickups, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The planned paint shop investment should strengthen the plant’s long-term competitiveness by introducing more advanced technology designed to improve paint quality, efficiency and environmental performance. F carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Latest Investment in Facility Expansion by Other Automakers
General Motors Company GM is planning a $40 million investment in its Bedford Casting Operations facility in Indiana to strengthen production capabilities for its vehicle powertrain lineup. The investment will support manufacturing of General Motors’ 10-speed automatic transmission, which is expected to be used in the automaker’s full-size SUVs and trucks. Per WBIW, the additional production capacity is expected to come online in 2027. General Motors has indicated plans to invest approximately $9 billion across its domestic manufacturing footprint in 2026, while more than $7 billion is expected to be allocated to U.S. research and development.
Rivian Automotive, Inc. RIVN is expanding the planned production capacity of its future manufacturing facility at Stanton Springs North in Georgia. Announced on April 30, 2026, Rivian increased the optimized Phase 1 capacity target to 300,000 vehicles annually, up 50% from the previously planned 200,000 units. The expanded capacity is intended to support Rivian’s efforts to scale American-made EV production while improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing per-vehicle costs. Vertical construction is expected to begin in 2026, with vehicle production targeted to start in late 2028.
F’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Ford has outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Domestic industry in the last six months. Its shares have gained 13.1% against the industry’s decline of 4.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, F appears undervalued. Going by its price/sales ratio, the company is trading at a forward sales multiple of 0.3, lower than the industry’s 3.27.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for F’s 2026 and 2027 EPS has moved up 20 cents and 10 cents, respectively, in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks’ Research Chief Names “Stock Most Likely to Double”
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This innovative software-as-a-service firm upped its user base +22% year over year. That rate is increasing and margins are expanding as AI efficiencies take effect. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report
General Motors Company (GM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
5 Stocks Our Experts Predict Could Double In the Next Year
By submitting your email, you'll also get a free pivot & flow membership. A free daily market overview. You can unsubscribe at any time.
