Today in 1913 Ford Motor Company opened its Louisville Assembly Plant. It was first located at 931 South Third Street where it made Model-Ts. In 1916 the plant moved to Third & Eastern Parkway to a four-story plant. The pant moved again in 1925 to a one level plant on Southwestern Parkway, before finally settling at its current location on Fern Valley Road in 1955.
The Louisville plant produced several models of Ford cars such as the Edsel (they produced 67% from 1957-59), Galaxy, Fairlane, and Sunliners. The plant also produced heavy-duty trucks until the opening of the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane in 1969. The Louisville plant continued producing passenger cars.
Beginning in the 1980s, the Louisville plant began making light trucks, beginning with the F-series. After renovations in 1982, the plant began production of the Ranger pickup, as well as SUVs like the Bronco and Explorer.The Louisville Assembly Plant is currently home to the Ford Escape.
Though Ford was one of the many companies effected by the economic struggles of the last decade, Ford's two Louisville plants have remained major employers to the city. And as our economy continues to recover, surely Ford will continue to produce their fine automobiles for years to come.
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