GE Moves Washing Machine Production From China To Kentucky

GE Appliances has announced a nearly half-billion-dollar project that will create 800 new jobs and shift production of clothes washers from China to its sprawling manufacturing complex in Kentucky.

The company plans to move production of its combo washer/dryer units and a range of front-load washers from China to its Louisville facility. I Photo: GE Appliances Careers

The $490 million investment positions GE Appliances as the largest U.S. manufacturer of washing machines, Bruce Schreiner reported for the Associated Press (AP).

“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 said.

“This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment.”

The announcement comes amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to bring factories back to the U.S. through the use of tariffs. His administration has imposed 10% tariffs on most imports and 30% levies on Chinese goods.

GE Appliances said nearly all the steel used in its U.S. manufacturing comes from domestic steelmakers.

The company plans to move production of its combo washer/dryer units and a range of front-load washers from China to its Louisville facility, known as Appliance Park.

In total, production of more than 15 models will shift to the Kentucky plant. Once expanded, the Louisville complex will devote an area equivalent to 33 football fields to clothes care production, the company said.