Ford has chosen its plant in Almussafes, located in Valencia, Spain, to develop the GE2 electric vehicle platform, which will power two new, as yet unannounced, models. The decision was made following an internal negotiation process that began in 2021. Both the Spanish and German factories (Saarlouis) offered their proposals to convince the company that they are the best option for the production of future electric vehicles on the continent.
The announcement is a breath of fresh air for the Almussafes plant, which will cease production of Mondeo and Transit vans for the US market at the end of 2021. They will also stop assembling for the European market at a later date. In addition, Galaxy and S-Max will also cease production in 2024. They would only stay with the Ford Kuga if no changes were made. That guarantees its work for the next 10-15 years.
In March of this year, Ford announced that it would separate the electric vehicle block from the internal combustion engine block. This is part of a long-term plan for a more streamlined and clear transition to electric mobility.
Now, with the announcement, Ford’s factory will switch to full electric vehicles with production of these two new models from 2026. Industry Minister Reyes Maroto made a statement today at the Congress of Deputies.
Potential Benefits of the Ford Almusafes Plant
Among the advantages that led Ford to choose the Almussafes plant in Valencia is the lowest wages, a third compared to Germany. In addition, through negotiations with the UGT union, a wage cap was adopted for the next four years. It also operates 18 Saturdays a year and works the night shift. Thus, the delivery of orders will be guaranteed.
In addition, the works council agreed on a new labor agreement that extends the working day by 15 minutes. In addition, the Mediterranean Corridor for transporting cars by rail from Spain to Central Europe is expected to be completed when production of new electric models begins in 2026.
Source: Hiper Textual
