GE Appliances announced this week that it’s moving even more of its production from China to GOP-led state Kentucky, and investing nearly half-a-billion dollars.
The company is moving most of its washing machine production to Kentucky, spending $490 million in the process, and creating at least 800 full-time jobs. The move is expected to be completed by 2027.
“We are bringing laundry production to our global headquarters in Louisville because manufacturing in the U.S. is fundamental to our ‘zero-distance’ business strategy to make appliances as close as possible to our customers and consumers,” GE Appliances President and CEO Kevin Nolan said in a statement.
“This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment,” Nolan said, adding that the investment “positions” GE “to become the biggest American washer manufacturer.”
The announcement comes amid President Donald Trump using tariffs on a host of countries, including China, to help restore what he views as fair trade, American manufacturing, and also address national security issues, like illegal immigration and fentanyl.
Additionally, under Trump, inflation has cooled and gas prices have hit a four-year low.
GE’s Appliance Park, a massive industrial complex located in Louisville, already employs around 8,000 workers, the company said. Additionally, GE has invested $3.5 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations over the past ten years.
“This investment will move production of more than 15 models of front load washers to Building 2 at Appliance Park – bringing the total area of clothes care production to the equivalent of 33 football fields,” a statement from the company said.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, praised the move from GE.
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“Today’s announcement further secures Louisville as the global headquarters of GE Appliances, a Haier company, and brings more world-class, unparalleled appliance manufacturing back to the United States,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“This new investment strengthens one of our vital Kentucky assets and underscores our state’s reputation as America’s destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and job creation,” he added.
A number of companies have committed to investing in the U.S. since Trump took office, including South Korean-based car manufacturer Hyundai, which is investing $21 billion in U.S. onshoring, including a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana. Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, too, announced plans to invest $55 billion in U.S. manufacturing. And in February, tech company Apple committed to spending more than $500 billion on U.S. manufacturing capabilities over the next four years.
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