Ford has announced its strategy for the electrification of its vehicles in Europe, and the Almussafes plant (Valencia) has been one of those chosen for this new era. Like the rest of the industry, the car manufacturer is facing the transition to electric and connected cars. This step requires a new body architecture, with major investments in assembly and production plants.

The Valencia plant has beaten Saarlouis (Germany) to take over the production of the new generation of electric vehicles. The German plant will continue to produce the Ford Focus, while the Spanish one will be adapted to start production of new models that, according to the company, will secure jobs and increase its offering of premium, high-performance, fully connected electric vehicles in response to current European market demand.

Approximate investment
Production in Valencia will start in the next few years, when the design of the new models is approved. Before that, in 2023, assembly will begin at the state-of-the-art Electrification Centre in Cologne. The investment of US$2 billion that these German facilities will receive for their adaptation to the new architecture is an indication of the sum that the company will have to spend in Valencia for the same purpose.

The brand's goal is to consolidate a full range of passenger and commercial electric vehicles in Europe to produce more than two million units by 2026 and sell some 600,000 on the continent. The target set by the European Parliament requires 100% of vehicles sold on the continent to be zero-emissions by 2035. In 2021, the figure amounted to 2.3 million units, with a strong 65% increase compared to the previous year.

Extremely competitive industry
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said, "We are committed to building a vibrant and sustainable business in Europe as part of our Ford+ plan, and that requires focus and tough decisions." He added, "The automotive industry in Europe is extremely competitive, and to thrive and grow we can never settle for anything less than incredibly good products, an exceptional customer experience, ultra-efficient operations and a talented and motivated team."

Ford Europe president and chief transformation and quality officer at the Ford Motor Company, Stuart Rowley, explained, "We are accelerating our transformation in Europe, reinventing the way we do business and building a future where incredible vehicles and a relentless focus on the customer experience go hand in hand with protecting the environment.”

^{Photo: Ford}