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Ford Retools KC's F-150 Plant for 2021 Models
The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant will be retooled for the F-150 2021 models in October 2020. Employing, 6,900 people, the Assembly Plant is one of KC's top employers.
The Kansas City Business Journal, August 2020

Highest Selling Pickup Truck in the U.S.
The Ford F-Series vehicles, made in Kansas City, maintained its long standing leadership in that segment. Ford's results were also enough to push total 2019 U.S. vehicle sales to 17.1 million units, making it the fifth straight year they have finished above 17 million.
Forbes, January 2020

Chris Gutierrez

President | KC SmartPort

816.591.7311

Chris leads KC SmartPort business development and provides thought leadership to the supply chain industry in Kansas City.

Automotive Manufacturing

As the automotive industry turns to electrification and other advanced technologies, proximity to key resources, an established centralized supply chain and having the right talent are of the utmost importance.

The Kansas City region is a top automotive logistics hub, home to major production facilities for both Ford and General Motors, as well as nearly 70 auto industry suppliers. Additionally, the Kansas City region is a nucleus of engineering, technology, and automotive manufacturing expertise with a strong talent pipeline and cutting edge training programs.

In the last decade, the Kansas City region has seen significant economic investment from the automotive sector. Reinvestment in General Motors’ Fairfax, Kan. operation ($265 million in 2018 and $650 million in 2013), Ford’s Claycomo, Mo. facility ($100 million in 2021, $400 million in 2019 and $1.2 billion in 2011), and Ford's stamping plant in Liberty, Mo. ($101 million in 2020, $5.8 million in 2019 and $260 million in 2011) has resulted in a surge of interest and investment from automotive suppliers looking to the KC region for new facilities.

Kansas City has been named the #2 auto industry trading hub in North America by the Brookings Institution and employs more than 20,941 individuals in the auto and transportation industry. Ford’s KC plant has been cited as its most productive worldwide, producing the new Ford Transit Van and best-selling F-150 truck.

The Basics

Employed in KC Manufacturing

JobsEQ, 1Q 2020
Note: Data represents KCADC 18-County Region

Employed in KC Transportation Manufacturing

JobsEQ, 1Q 2020
Note: Data represents KCADC 18-County Region

Annual Automobiles made in KC

Center for Automotive Research, 2019

Value of KC Transportation Manufacturing

2017 Economic Census

Existing Presence

Kansas City is a center for automotive manufacturing and activity as a host of prominent companies operate within the region. Some of these companies include, but are not limited to:

Speed to Market

Kansas City is a move-in ready market with available Class A building inventory and a strong selection of vertical-ready sites. The region is expected to deliver over 15 million sq. ft. of new industrial space in 2021, which includes speculative and build-to-suit facilities.

Benefits of an Established Automotive Logistics Hub

Ongoing supply chain investment from KC’s automotive industry

Streamlined supply chain operations and lower operating costs

Multi-modal transportation infrastructure

Existing manufacturing and distribution operations mean quicker access to suppliers, partners and talent

2nd largest rail center in the U.S.

Workforce Demographics

Manufacturing workers in Kansas City are 11% more productive than the national average, as measured by JobsEQ in Q4 2020 for output per worker. Automotive transportation production workers in Kansas City have similar age and educational attainment characteristics as the national average. However, Kansas City's automotive manufacturing workforce is three percent younger on average than the aging U.S. automotive production workers.

KC Engineering & Tech Talent