Back in June 2022, Ford announced that it would be ceasing production at the Saarlouis Assembly plant in Germany in 2025 as it works to transition its entire passenger vehicle lineup in Europe to EVs in the coming years. At the same time, the automaker also revealed that the Valencia Assembly plant in Spain would be retooled for the production of next-generation all-electric vehicles. However, a few months later, Ford Spain noted that it would be delaying some of its planned investments due to a “revised outlook” as it works to develop a platform specifically for that market. With the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center successfully retooled for EV production, the Valencia plant shed around 1,100 jobs last spring as it works toward that same goal, but now, news that a future Ford hybrid SUV may be built at the same facility has surfaced, according to Reuters.
“We are closely monitoring the evolution of the European markets for opportunities to enhance our current product offering,” the automaker said in a statement. “Given the changes we see in the industry, we believe there is an opportunity to add an all-new multi-energy SUV to the Europe cycle plan, to be manufactured in Valencia.”
This decision isn’t reportedly set in stone as of yet, but it’s potentially positive news for the 4,800 workers at Valencia, particularly as worldwide EV demand has cooled as of late. “Great news for Valencia, Spain and the workers of Ford Spain,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. “The company’s decision to produce electric vehicles guarantees the viability of the Almussafes plant for the coming years.”
Currently, the Valencia plant only builds the Ford Kuga, leaving workers in a bit of a limbo as they await news of a possible expansion. However, even if production of this future Ford hybrid SUV doesn’t come to fruition, it seems as if the union representing workers at the plant – the General Workers Union (UGT) – isn’t too worried about the future. “Almussafes will have a new vehicle and will maintain a sufficient workload,” the union said in a separate statement.
We’ll have more on the future of the Ford Valencia Assembly plant soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
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