Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and JobsOhio joined representatives of Ford Motor Company to announce that Ford will invest $1.5 billion in Lorain County at Ford Ohio Assembly Plant (Avon Lake) to assemble a new commercial electric vehicle (EV). This investment will provide 1,800 hourly job opportunities.
Governor Mike DeWine stated that “the ingenuity, talent and ingenuity of Ohio’s automotive workforce is second to none” and that Ford’s investment at Avon Lake would play an important role in expanding the EV market. Ford has been an Ohio partner for generations. Ford’s confidence in the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant operations ensures that EV operations will continue to be vital for Lorain County for many decades.
The Ford Ohio Assembly Plant will create 1,800 jobs for the new commercial electric vehicle. In addition, the expanded facility will continue to produce Ford’s E series vans, medium-duty trucks, and Super Duty chassis. Ford announced additional 90 jobs as well as a $100 million investment in its Sharonville Transmission and Lima Engine Plant plants.
“There are so many great things about a day like this, but the best news for Northeast Ohio is that 1,800 new good-paying jobs will be created with health benefits and a higher quality of life”- Governor Husted. Governor DeWine and I are happy Ford chose Ohio as the manufacturing site for this EV vehicle. This will continue Ohio’s rich legacy of automotive innovation.”
Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant at Avon Lake in Ohio is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Commercial electric vehicle assembly is expected to start in the middle of the decade.
Kumar Galhotra (President, Ford Blue) stated that Ohio is “one of the greatest automotive hubs in the world and a key manufacturing country that has been central for Ford since our first Ohio Assembly Plant was opened in 1958.” Ford is proud to produce more cars and employ more union workers in the U.S. than any other manufacturer. Our commitment to Ohio has deepened today with 1,800 union jobs, a $1.5 billion investment to create a new commercial EV at Ohio Assembly Plant, and our dedication to the state of Ohio.
Ford Motor Company, DeWine-Husted Administration and the Ohio Department of Development all worked with JobsOhio in bringing the project to Avon Lake. JobsOhio is the state’s private non-profit economic development corporation. Original equipment manufacturers are now putting a greater emphasis on electric vehicles.
J.P. Nauseef is the president and CEO of JobsOhio. “The Avon Lake facility symbolizes the automotive heritage in Ohio, our world-class labor force and also our shared commitment to Ford to advancing technology as we transition – together – into the EV space. Future production will be possible,” he said. JobsOhio and its partners are committed to the protection and growth of Ohio’s automotive industry and positioning it as a global leader in EV technology.
Ford has facilities in Avon Lake and Brook Park, Lima and Sharonville, as well as more than 7,000 Ohio employees.
“Today’s Ford investment in Avon Lake by Ford is a testament the world-class workforce of Lorain County, Northeast Ohio,” stated State Senator Nathan Manning. “I am proud to have supported Megaproject legislation that will allow Ohio to win life-changing investments such as this. This is an excellent example of the collaboration that JobsOhio and the State of Ohio can achieve success.”
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority will discuss a tax credit to support the expansion at the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake. JobsOhio plans to also provide grant assistance.
Ohio’s dedication to innovation makes it an ideal fit for the growing electric vehicle supply chain. Ohio’s rich history in the automotive industry, automotive supply chain, and overall proximity to resources and manufacturers make it a great place for electric vehicle production in the future.