The Ford Valencia Assembly plant in Spain has undergone quite the transformation in recent months, as it’s been designated to produce next-generation all-electric vehicles following a period of time when its future was uncertain. This process is slated to begin later this decade, and came about shortly after the automaker invested $6.13 million in the Valencia plant to build the new 2.5L Duratec hybrid engine and battery packs there as well, all while utilizing a solar array to generate clean energy for the site. That transition has since resulted in 1,100 forthcoming job cuts at the Ford Valencia Assembly plant, but two workers there are currently embarking on a rather noble mission – to help raise money for charity by cycling a very long distance.
The two Ford Valencia Assembly employees – line worker Álvaro Tarazón and electrical engineer Fran Lozano – left the facility just yesterday, and will cover the 2,000 kilometer – or 1,243 mile – distance between it and the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany in the coming days. It’s a challenging ride full of steep roads and lofty ascents, though each will take turns cycling while the other drives a Ford Mustang Mach-E support vehicle, which has been loaned to them by The Blue Oval.
The purpose behind this long ride is to raise money for two charitable organizations – the Josep Carreras Foundation against Leukemia, and the 1km1vida initiative that benefits the Vicente Ferrer Foundation.”I recently returned from running the Anantapur Ultramarathon, a sports-solidarity event for the benefit of Vicente Ferrer Foundation in India, and Álvaro had been following me on social networks,” Lozano said. “When we met back in Valencia, Álvaro asked me about the possibility of doing something similar with Ford, also with a solidarity objective, such as cycling from Ford Almussafes to Ford Cologne. After making the initiative known to the right people, Ford saw our enthusiasm and supported our idea.”
“In my case, I usually do 400 km a week by bike and compete nationally in mountain bike races, but I know it’s going to be very hard,” Álvaro said. Regardless, the two are eager to do their part to help two worthy causes – as well as strengthen ties between the two Ford facilities.
We’ll have more on the Valencia plant soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
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