Ford->ke31 is making serious preparations for its upcoming 2017 Super Duty pickup. The automaker has announced its Louisville, Kentucky Truck Plant – home of the Super Duty pickup->ke242 – will receive $1.3 billion in retrofits while simultaneously creating some 2,000 new jobs.

The sizeable investment will bring a new body shop, assembly line tooling, and general facility upgrades to the plant in preparation for the all-new, aluminum-bodied trucks. The Kentucky Truck Plant is responsible for the F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550, along with the Super Duty chassis cabs, Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator.

“Adding new jobs and more investment at Kentucky Truck Plant not only secures a solid foundation for our UAW members, but also strengthens the communities in which they live, work and play,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department.

Ford is quick to point out its past investments into the Truck Plant and the surrounding Louisville area. In 2014, Ford poured some $80 million into the Truck Plant for upgrades in order to meet an influx of demand. Across town at the Louisville Lincoln plant, Ford invested $129 million to support production of the Lincoln MKC. All told, more than $1.5 billion have been invested in the local area since 2013.

The upcoming 2017 Super Duty is slated to arrive at dealerships by late 2016 and will come equipped with a familiar set of powertrain options, while using an all-aluminum body and interior finishing very similar to those in the current F-150.->ke423

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