Drive down Moore Road in Avon Lake and you can’t miss it. It’s massive. Most people driving past the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant (OHAP) probably just see a sprawling industrial complex with a sea of white vans in the lot. But if you’re into the nuts and bolts of the American economy, this place is basically the heartbeat of the commercial trucking world. It’s not just a factory; it’s where the backbone of every delivery fleet and construction crew in the country gets built.
The plant has been around since 1974. That’s over 50 years of shifting gears, literally and figuratively. It started out making Econoline vans, which were the gold standard for plumbers and electricians for decades. Fast forward to today, and the mission has shifted toward the heavy hitters—the F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks, along with the E-Series cutaway.
The Massive Pivot Everyone Missed
A few years ago, people were betting against OHAP. There was all this talk about production moving elsewhere, maybe even across the border. But Ford did something unexpected. They doubled down on Ohio.
In 2019 and again with more recent labor agreements, the company committed to massive investments, totaling billions of dollars across their Michigan and Ohio footprints. For Avon Lake, this meant securing the future of the F-Series medium-duty line. These aren't your typical grocery getters. We’re talking about the chassis that becomes your local ambulance, a heavy-duty tow truck, or a municipal dump truck.
Honestly, the scale of the operation is hard to wrap your head around until you see the line moving. It’s loud. It’s synchronized. It’s a mix of legacy mechanical engineering and high-tech robotics that makes you realize how much precision goes into a vehicle that weighs several tons.
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Electric Dreams and Very Real Steel
The big news lately, and what’s really driving the conversation around the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant, is the "Ohio Assembly Plant Expansion" project. Ford announced they’re adding about 1,800 new union jobs to the site. Why? To build an all-new electric commercial vehicle.
This is a huge deal.
While everyone is focused on the F-150 Lightning or the Mustang Mach-E, the real transformation of the American road might happen in the commercial sector. Think about it. If a massive delivery fleet switches to EV, the carbon footprint drops way faster than if a few neighbors buy electric SUVs. OHAP is being positioned as the hub for this transition. They aren't just making "vans" anymore; they are building the infrastructure for the next century of logistics.
The UAW Local 2000 members who work there have seen it all. They've lived through the recession, the supply chain nightmares of 2021, and the shift toward automation. There’s a specific kind of pride in Avon Lake. You see it in the local diners and the high school football stands. The plant isn’t just a workplace; it’s the economic engine of the entire county.
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What’s Actually Under the Hood?
If you’re looking at the current lineup, the diversity of what comes off that line is pretty wild. You have the E-Series cutaways—those are the ones you see as moving trucks or shuttle buses. Then you have the medium-duty trucks.
- F-650/F-750: These are the beasts. They come with either a 7.3L V8 gas engine or a 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel.
- The Chassis Cab: This is basically a blank canvas for "upfitters." Companies take the bare bones from the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant and turn them into specialized tools.
- The Future EV: While the specific specs are still under wraps, we know it’s part of the Ford+ plan to lead the electric revolution.
The 7.3L V8 "Godzilla" engine is a favorite among fleet managers. It’s simple. It’s durable. It doesn't have the complexity of some smaller, turbocharged engines, which means when something goes wrong in the middle of a job site, it’s actually fixable. That's the kind of practical engineering that keeps this plant relevant.
The Economic Ripple Effect
Let’s talk numbers, but keep it real. When Ford invests $1.5 billion into a facility like this, the money doesn’t stay behind the fence. It bleeds out into the local tool-and-die shops, the logistics companies that move the parts, and even the local real estate market.
Economists often talk about the "multiplier effect." For every one job inside the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant, there are roughly seven to ten jobs created in the surrounding community to support it. That includes the truck drivers delivering components from suppliers in Michigan and the software engineers in nearby tech hubs working on the vehicle’s telematics.
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It hasn't always been easy. There have been moments where the plant’s future felt shaky. During the 2023 UAW negotiations, the focus wasn't just on wages—it was on job security and making sure the transition to electric vehicles didn't leave the Ohio workforce behind. The result was a commitment to make Ohio a cornerstone of Ford's EV strategy.
Addressing the Skeptics
Some people argue that moving to EVs will kill the traditional auto worker's job because electric motors have fewer parts than internal combustion engines. It’s a valid concern. However, at OHAP, the shift seems to be about expansion rather than replacement.
By adding the EV line alongside the existing internal combustion products, Ford is basically hedging its bets. They know the world isn't going to stop needing diesel dump trucks tomorrow. But they also know that the company that wins the electric commercial market wins the next decade.
The plant’s footprint is expanding physically, too. You can see the construction crews prepping the site for the new assembly lines. It’s a chaotic, exciting time for the region.
How to Track What’s Next
If you’re a business owner or an investor, you need to keep your eyes on the "upfitter" market. These are the secondary companies that take Ford’s chassis and add the specialized equipment. As OHAP ramps up its EV production, watch for a surge in new upfitting businesses in Northern Ohio. They’ll be the ones designing the electric refrigeration units and the high-voltage power tools that run directly off the truck’s battery.
For the average person, the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant stands as a reminder that American manufacturing isn't a relic of the past. It’s just evolving. It’s getting quieter, smarter, and a lot more electric.
Actionable Insights for Fleet Managers and Local Stakeholders
- Monitor Lead Times: With the expansion and the introduction of new EV lines, lead times for traditional F-650/F-750 models may fluctuate. If you need a fleet refresh, start the procurement process early to avoid being caught in a production shift.
- Infrastructure Readiness: If you’re a local business in Lorain County, now is the time to look at your service offerings. The influx of 1,800 workers means a massive demand for housing, childcare, and services.
- EV Training: For technicians and fleet mechanics, get ahead of the curve. The vehicles coming out of the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in the next 24 months will require a completely different skill set than the E-Series of the last 20 years. Look into Ford’s specialized EV certifications now.
- Local Government Grants: Municipalities near the plant should be scouting for federal and state grants focused on "Electric Vehicle Infrastructure." The proximity to the manufacturing hub makes this region a prime candidate for pilot programs.