CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Kenworth Truck Company recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the start of an $89 million, 45,825-square-foot expansion at its Class 8 truck assembly plant in Chillicothe, Ohio. This project will introduce a state-of-the-art chassis paint system, increasing the plant’s size by 7% from its current 622,000 square feet. Located on a 120-acre site about 50 miles south of Columbus, the expanded facility is expected to open in early 2026.
The new paint building will incorporate advanced technologies, including robotic systems and connected manufacturing sensors, to enhance paint capacity, improve product quality, and support Kenworth’s award-winning environmental programs. Doug VanZuiden, Kenworth Chillicothe plant manager, stated that this investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, while improving the overall efficiency of the truck assembly process.
Since 2018, Kenworth has invested nearly $400 million in the Chillicothe plant for upgrades and expansion projects. Earlier this year, the plant celebrated 50 years of producing top-quality trucks.