The KC Region Emerges as the Nation’s Second-Largest Auto Hub

Ford Motor Company introduced their new 2015 Ford F-150 at this year’s Kansas City Auto Show. Soon

after it’s unveiling, people were buzzing about the truck’s “revolutionary new aluminum design” which allowed 700 pounds to be shed off the truck’s total weight.  This buzz is a plus for the Kansas City region—as the first of these new models will roll off the assembly line at Ford’s Kansas City Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.

According to Motor Trend Magazine, The Ford F-150 remains the best selling and highest rated truck in the world. With the high production demand of the new the F-150, it's expected that the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant will remain busy. Another venture for the plant includes plans to start production on the Ford Transit, a light commercial vehicle originally developed for use in Europe.

Additionally, the General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas is pushing out the Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse.  The combination of both plants efforts to incorporate various stages of  the production process has had a strong effect on the greater KC region. Kansas City is now recognized as the second-largest U.S. automotive hub behind Detroit.

Kansas City has established itself as a strong automotive industry hub due to several factors including: low carrying costs, intermodal capabilities, and investments in the Ford and GM plants. In the past year, Ford and GM have invested $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively into their Kansas City locations.

The North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) has allowed Kansas City to take advantage of trade with Canada and Mexico. Canada is the KC’s largest trading partner, predominately through its automotive trade. Kansas City is predicted to continue assisting in the auto-industry recovery as a leading automotive manufacturing hub.

KC SmartPort, a non-profit economic development organization with the focus of enhancing the KC region’s status as a leading North American logistics hub has directly assisted with bringing suppliers in to work with the assembly plants.  “With Kansas City’s location, supply chain advantages and quality of labor, this region has emerged as a leading automotive player and will continue to see growth in this sector,” says Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort.


Block Real Estate Services (BRES) is a proud supporter and contributor of the KC SmartPort.

Guest Blog Contributor:

Richard Stahl
Intern at KC SmartPort, Inc