GE Appliances says that it plans to invest $490 million to move production of its washing machines from China to its Louisville, Kentucky headquarters.
According to a June 26 release from GE, the reshoring effort will create 800 new full-time jobs, and would make the company the largest domestic manufacturer for washing machines in the U.S. In total, GE will look to move production for more than 15 models of its front-load washers to its Appliance Park production complex in Louisville, as well as stainless steel baskets and cabinets. The company is hoping to have the new manufacturing lines open sometime in 2027.
“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 GE Appliances president and CEO Kevin Nolan.
Nolan noted that the decision was driven by the “current economic and policy environment,” referencing the current push from the Trump administration to move more manufacturing to U.S. shores. Less than a week before GE’s announcement, computer chip giant Texas Instrument said that it will invest more than $60 billion in U.S. semiconductor production, while Kraft Heinz committed $3 billion to upgrade its existing U.S. facilities in mid-May. Apple, food brand Mars Inc., brewer Anheuser-Busch, and facial tissue company Kimberly-Clark have made similar commitments in recent months as well.
