Ford is moving to expand electric-vehicle production in the United States despite reduced EV support and automakers’ business realignments. It is converting its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky into a dedicated EV production base and preparing to produce a new mid-sized electric truck, the Fathom.

On Sept. 1, EV-focused outlet CleanTechnica reported that Ford is investing $2 billion in the Louisville Assembly Plant to 추진 its “Universal EV” project. The key is to transform an existing internal combustion vehicle production facility of about 3 million square feet into a dedicated EV factory.

Ford previously announced last year that it would convert the Louisville plant into a full EV production facility. It plans to produce the new mid-sized electric truck Fathom there.

The large-scale renovation began with tearing out existing production equipment. Ford halted operations at the plant at the end of 2025 and, over several weeks, dismantled heavy equipment and removed it. It also moved steel structures totaling thousands of tons out of the plant. In February, it explained that virtually “only an empty shell remained” inside the plant.

Work is now under way to build an EV-only production system. Ford said work at the Louisville site has been moving quickly since last winter and that the Universal EV production system, which greatly simplifies the assembly process, is being applied at the plant.

Once the new production system is in place, Ford’s prototype build for the Fathom is set to begin in the first quarter of 2027. It is targeting the start of customer deliveries in the same year.

Ford did not disclose specific vehicle performance, pricing or sales plans, but suggested the Fathom could become a breakthrough in the EV market when combined with the new production method.

The investment is drawing attention because it shows Ford is focusing on reshaping production methods rather than withdrawing completely from its EV business.

In the United States, reduced EV support and changes in market conditions have led automakers to halt large EV programmes or readjust production plans. Ford has also adjusted its existing EV lineup, but its strategy is to continue its EV business at the Louisville plant based on a new production system.

The Universal EV project in particular is focused on simplifying EV assembly to raise production efficiency. Ford’s plan is to respond more flexibly to changes in the EV market through this approach.

A key point to watch is whether the Fathom prototype build slated for the first quarter of 2027 proceeds as planned. If it is followed by mass production and customer deliveries, the Louisville plant is expected to become a key base showcasing Ford’s next-generation EV production strategy.