Final Ford Escape leaves Louisville Assembly as plant readies midsize EV pickup

The Ford Escape story has reached its final chapter: the last crossover rolled off the line at the Louisville Assembly Plant, its body covered in signatures from the workers, as reported by Tarantas News. The gesture felt warmly, unmistakably American—and made it clear this was more than a model change for the plant; it marked the close of an era.

Ford had flagged the end of production for the Escape and its Lincoln Corsair sibling back in August, and now that call has become reality on the line. Almost immediately after the final vehicle, teardown crews moved in—the facility is being readied for a reboot.

Ford plans to invest about $2 billion to retool the plant for a midsize electric pickup built on a new flexible EV platform. Production is slated to start in 2027. The transition will sting on the jobs front: roughly 2,000 employees will be out of work for nearly ten months, with the UAW promising partial pay and help with temporary placements. It’s a stark reminder that big pivots come with real turbulence on the shop floor.

For Escape shoppers, the curtain doesn’t drop overnight. Factory orders are closed, but dealers still have thousands of 2026-model-year vehicles, most of them in Active trim with front- or all-wheel drive. As the “final year” sets in, discounts and attractive lease terms are already appearing.