GE Appliances announced Thursday that it will invest $490 million in its Louisville, Kentucky manufacturing complex, relocating production of washing machines from China to the U.S. The move is expected to create 800 new jobs and expand the company’s footprint in the American appliance manufacturing sector.
With this investment, GE Appliances says it will become the largest U.S. producer of washing machines.
“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,” said CEO Kevin Nolan. “This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment.”
The announcement aligns with President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to revive U.S. manufacturing, particularly through the imposition of tariffs. His administration has enacted a 10% tariff on imports from most countries and a 30% levy on Chinese goods. GE Appliances noted that nearly all the steel used in its U.S. manufacturing is sourced from American producers.
The project will transfer production of combo washer/dryer units and several models of front-load washers from China to Kentucky. In total, more than 15 models will now be made at the company’s massive Louisville complex, known as Appliance Park. When complete, the laundry production area will span a space equal to 33 football fields.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat who has criticized Trump’s tariff policies, nevertheless praised the company’s latest investment in the state.
“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 said.
According to the company, the redesigned plant will become its most technologically advanced facility for washing machine production. It will incorporate leading-edge automation and robotics, including autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles.
GE Appliances said the new manufacturing lines are set to begin operations in 2027.
Currently, the company produces top-load washers and front-load dryers at the adjacent Building 1 within the Louisville complex.
While GE Appliances handles product design and engineering in Louisville, it has relied on outsourcing to supplement its U.S. production capacity. The company partners with manufacturers abroad — including in China — for some of its product lines. However, executives reiterated that domestic manufacturing remains at the core of their long-term strategy.
“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 Appliances.
The $490 million announcement adds to GE Appliances’ broader investment plan. Over the past decade, the company has committed $3.5 billion to bolster its U.S. manufacturing operations, with more than one-third allocated to Appliance Park.
Appliance Park currently employs approximately 8,000 people across five plants, which manufacture washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and components. Beyond Kentucky, GE Appliances also operates plants in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Connecticut.
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