Aug 12, 2021
silver ford f 150 in a concrete parking lot
Image via Flickr by Truck Hardware

When shopping for a new or used truck, many buyers prefer to purchase American-made vehicles that were designed and manufactured within the United States. As one of the oldest auto manufacturing companies in the U.S., it’s no surprise that Ford has an excellent record for manufacturing its cars and trucks inside the United States. If you’re thinking about buying a Ford F-150 and have questions about where the trucks are produced, this guide is ready to answer all of your Ford F-150 manufacturing location questions.

Where Does Ford Make the F-150?

Ford takes pride in the American craftsmanship responsible for all of its vehicles, including every Ford F-150 they produce. Ford does not currently have any plants outside of the United States creating Ford F-150 vehicles. This means when you’re shopping for a Ford F-150 in Spokane, you can do so knowing that the truck you buy, whether you shop for a new or used Ford F-150, will be made 100% in the United States.

Ford currently produces its trucks in one of two truck production facilities. The first facility is located in Dearborn, Michigan, which also serves as the home for the Ford Motor Company. Ford also manufacturers trucks like the F-150 in their assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri. These are the only locations currently used to make Ford F-150s, so if you purchase one, it will have been made in one of those two locations.

How to Find Out Where Your Ford F-150 Truck Was Made

While you can be sure that your Ford F-150 was manufactured in the United States, when you purchase a new or used Ford F-150 near Spokane, Washington, you may be curious which of the two production plants produced your vehicle. If you’re interested in discovering which plant is responsible for the Ford you have purchased or are considering purchasing, the best way to find out is using the vehicle identification number (VIN).

In order to determine your vehicle’s production plant using the VIN number, you must first locate it. For a Ford F-150, the VIN number is located on the driver’s side door jamb. While you can copy down the entire code, the important digit for identifying your Ford F-150’s production plant is the 11th digit, which is used to indicate production facilities in a VIN number. 

If there is an F in the 11th spot, that means that your Ford F-150 was produced at the Dearborn, Michigan production facility. If instead, there is a K in the 11th digit of the VIN number, your Ford F-150 was created in Kansas City at the Claycomo, Missouri production facility.

Where Are Ford F-150 Trucks Designed? Who Designs Them?

Although Ford has talented professionals working around the country, the majority of design staff work out of the company’s Dearborn, Michigan location. As the central hub of the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn hosts many of Ford’s senior executives, including Senior Designer Josh Henry.

Although elements of design and testing can be supplemented by Ford workers around the country, Dearborn, Michigan remains the home of the Ford F-150 design. Like all Ford vehicles, the company is proud to design, manufacture, and ship all of their Ford F-150 vehicles out of American cities.

Has Ford Ever Produced Trucks Outside of the US?

Ford has never manufactured its American trucks outside of American production facilities. This keeps the company in alignment with its strong belief in hiring American workers to provide American craftsmanship on all of its cars, trucks, and SUVs. Although there was a period when Ford manufactured some of its trucks for the Canadian market within Canadian manufacturing plants, Ford has since shut down the Canadian plants and moved all Canadian truck manufacturing to American production facilities.

Will Ford Be Outsourcing Production of Its F-150 Trucks in the Future?

As of the time of this writing, Ford has no plans to begin outsourcing production of their Ford F-150 trucks to countries outside of the United States. Ford is highly unlikely to do so in the future. American-made craftsmanship is an integral part of both the Ford brand and the Ford professional culture. Moving production outside of the United States would oppose both the brand and the manufacturing principles of the company, so it is a safe bet that future Ford F-150s will similarly reach the market entirely on the strength of American production facilities.

What is the Benefit of Purchasing American-Manufactured Ford F-150 Trucks in Spokane?

There are many excellent reasons to prefer shopping for vehicles that were designed and produced within the United States. On a personal level, when you purchase a Ford F-150 with its American craftsmanship, you know that you are getting the high standards that come with working on an American Ford production line. This means that no corners get cut during production, and you receive a vehicle that is built to work hard and get the job done. You also know that your Ford F-150 is built to last, and ready to give you many years of excellence.

Purchasing an American-made vehicle can also be beneficial to your community as well. Buying American helps to encourage economic growth in the United States. This benefits all Americans by helping to provide jobs for American workers and help fund economic growth for the United States and the positive effects that growth brings with it. With so many benefits both for you as the buyer and for Americans as a whole, it’s no wonder that many truck drivers prefer the American-made quality of the Ford F-150.

If you’re shopping for a new or used Ford F-150 near Spokane, Washington, then Wendle Ford is the place to be. Our trained staff can meet with you to discuss your options and help guide you to an F-150 that is made in America and can handle everything you need it to when you get behind the wheel. You can contact us online for more information, or come see us in person to take an American-made Ford F-150 out for a test drive. We look forward to seeing you!