Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant has been a steady presence in Kentucky’s manufacturing landscape for decades. But by the end of this year, more than 2,000 of its workers will face a long and uncertain stretch.

They’re looking at up to 10 months without regular benefits while the factory shuts down to convert its operations for EV production.

The facility, which currently builds the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair, will undergo a $2 billion transformation

It’s all part of Ford’s broader electrification strategy.

When it reopens, workers will help assemble a new midsize electric pickup built on the automaker’s Universal EV Platform.

It’s a system that Ford says cuts parts and assembly time dramatically. The truck is slated to launch in 2027.

During the shutdown, union members represented by UAW Local 862 will rely on partial income and unemployment benefits

According to Spectrum News 1, Ford confirmed that laid-off workers will receive 70% of their normal pay under terms negotiated in the 2023 UAW strike settlement.

Still, after the initial unemployment assistance runs out (roughly 16 weeks) many will spend six months or more without benefits before the plant restarts production.

Union leaders are trying to cushion the impact

UAW Local 862 recently hosted a resource fair to help members navigate temporary job options and state support programs.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet also joined the effort, offering guidance on income assistance and retraining opportunities.

Union representatives explained that affected employees must actively look for work to qualify for full unemployment benefits.

UAW officials estimate that once renovations are complete, workers will return in stages as Ford ramps up production of the new electric truck.

The company’s overhaul will include a redesigned assembly process, which replaces the traditional line with a more flexible “assembly tree” to improve efficiency and reduce strain on workers.

Ford has said the Louisville upgrades will secure about 2,200 hourly jobs once the plant is back online

For now, though, thousands of skilled workers are bracing for a long pause, waiting for the factory lights to switch back on and their next chapter in Ford’s electric era to begin.