Ford Motor Company has completed the final part of a US$2.6 billion investment in its Valencia, Spain, manufacturing operations, transforming it into one of the world's most advanced, flexible and productive auto plants.
The investment by Ford is the largest in the history of Spanish auto industry and will allow the Valencia plant to increase vehicle production by 40 per cent this year to about 400,000 vehicles, and will have the capacity to potentially build up to 450,000 vehicles a year.
Valencia also is today one of Spain's top automotive exporters, with 80 per cent of its production being exported worldwide.
Ford now employs about 8,000 people at the facility, up from just below 5,000 in early 2013. Supplier operations supporting Valencia production also have added 1,500 jobs since 2013.
"This world-class facility will help Ford's accelerate its growth in Europe and around the world," said Mark Fields, Ford president and chief executive officer. "Valencia is not only a major hub of production - building vehicles and engines exported to 75 countries worldwide - but also a centre of innovation employing some of the industry's most advanced lean, flexible and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes."
In 2015, Valencia will build six Ford nameplates and even more body styles. The plant currently builds the all-new Mondeo wagon, five-door, and four-door including the Mondeo Hybrid, Kuga SUV, Transit Connect light commercial vehicle and Tourneo Connect people-mover. The all-new S-MAX multi-activity vehicle, Galaxy seven-seat people-mover and the Vignale Mondeo go into production later this year.
The investment consisted of an initial $1.25 billion announced in 2011, followed by a further $1.37 billion since 2013. Valencia will be the sole European production source for all six Ford nameplates assembled at the plant.
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