John Deere’s $70M U.S. Investment Sparks Industrial Boom

John Deere is bringing excavator manufacturing back from Japan to American soil with a $70 million North Carolina factory that will produce the only excavator entirely made in the United States, marking a major victory for domestic manufacturing under President Trump’s America-first agenda.

Story Highlights

John Deere invests $70 million in Kernersville, North Carolina excavator factory, creating over 150 jobs
Facility will produce the only excavator designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in the United States
Manufacturing reshored from Japan as part of $20 billion U.S. investment commitment over 10 years
Additional state-of-the-art parts distribution center opening near Hebron, Indiana with 150 more jobs

Manufacturing Returns Home After Years Overseas

President Trump announced John Deere’s $70 million excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina on January 27, 2026, during a speech in Clive, Iowa. The facility reverses years of offshore production by bringing excavator manufacturing back from Japan to American workers. This marks a significant shift in corporate strategy that prioritizes domestic production capabilities over cheaper foreign labor. Both the North Carolina factory and a new Indiana distribution center are scheduled to open within the next year, delivering tangible results for American communities hungry for good-paying manufacturing jobs.

Only Fully American-Made Excavator Production

The Kernersville facility distinguishes itself as the sole source for excavators designed, developed, and manufactured entirely within U.S. borders. John Deere previously shipped this production to Japan, following the globalist pattern that gutted American manufacturing for decades. The new factory will produce future-generation excavators for the construction market, employing over 150 North Carolina workers with real manufacturing skills. This represents more than rhetoric about American manufacturing—it delivers concrete jobs and establishes genuine domestic production capacity in heavy equipment that strengthens our industrial independence.

Part of Broader $20 Billion Domestic Investment

John Deere committed to investing $20 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next decade, with these two facilities representing critical components of that strategy. The Hebron, Indiana parts distribution center recently broke ground and will employ approximately 150 workers when operational. Denver Caldwell, Vice President of Aftermarket and Customer Support, highlighted Indiana’s workforce quality and central location as strategic advantages. The distribution center will streamline nationwide delivery of equipment and parts for agricultural, construction, forestry, and mining customers. These investments strengthen supply chain resilience by reducing dependence on foreign logistics networks vulnerable to disruption.

Economic Impact for American Communities

Kernersville and Hebron stand to gain approximately 300 combined jobs delivering real economic stimulus to their local economies. John Deere Chairman and CEO John May emphasized the company’s “strong tradition of building America” and dedication to “strengthening the backbone of American industry.” Ryan Campbell, President of Worldwide Construction and Forestry, focused on delivering excellence while advancing John Deere’s manufacturing legacy through American job creation. These facilities represent expansion rather than replacement—John Deere’s primary North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, Illinois continues operating with approximately 1,200 employees, demonstrating growth in domestic operations rather than shuffling existing jobs.

Trump Administration Delivers Manufacturing Results

President Trump’s announcement highlights his administration’s focus on reversing decades of manufacturing decline caused by globalist policies that prioritized corporate profits over American workers. The reshoring of excavator production from Japan demonstrates what happens when leadership prioritizes American manufacturing through supportive policies rather than suffocating regulations and tax burdens. John Deere’s decision validates the administration’s approach to economic policy that encourages domestic investment. This stands in stark contrast to previous administrations that watched manufacturing jobs disappear overseas while offering nothing but empty promises. Real factories producing real equipment with real American jobs represent tangible victories for communities devastated by globalization’s broken promises.