GE Appliances announced Thursday a $490 million investment to move washing machine production from China to its Kentucky manufacturing complex, creating 800 jobs as the company responds to escalating U.S. trade tensions with Beijing.
The investment at Appliance Park in Louisville will shift production of more than 15 front-loading washer models from China to Kentucky, positioning the company to become America's largest washing machine manufacturer. The move comes as President Donald Trump has imposed 30% tariffs on Chinese goods and 10% levies on imports from most other countries.
"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," CEO Kevin Nolan said1. "This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment."
The announcement underscores how Trump's tariff strategy is prompting manufacturers to reconsider overseas production. GE Appliances, which is owned by China-based Haier Group, said nearly all steel used in its U.S. manufacturing comes from American steelmakers12.
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has criticized Trump's tariffs, welcomed the investment despite the policy disagreement1. "Today's announcement brings more appliance manufacturing back to the United States and solidifies Kentucky and Louisville as the global headquarters of GE Appliances," Beshear said1.
The redesigned facility will feature automation, robotics and material-handling technologies including automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots12. Production will include the GE Profile UltraFast Combo Washer/Dryer and the UltraFresh Front Load Washer lineup3.
When complete in 2027, the clothes care production area will span the equivalent of 33 football fields1. The investment builds on GE Appliances' $3.5 billion in U.S. manufacturing investments over the past decade14.
Appliance Park currently employs about 8,000 workers across five plants producing washers, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators12. The complex, established in the 1950s, covers 920 acres and includes its own ZIP code3.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved performance-based incentives for the project4. GE Appliances has invested more than $2 billion in U.S. operations since 2016, supporting over 100,000 American families according to the company's economic impact report5.
"Manufacturing in Louisville puts production closer to our designers, engineers and consumers so that together we can create our most innovative laundry platforms," said Lee Lagomarcino, vice president of clothes care at GE Appliances6.
