Ford Motor is considering building a new SUV at its plant in Valencia, Spain, the company said. They stated their intention to evaluate opportunities to improve their current product range in response to evolving market dynamics in Europe.
Acknowledging the changes in the industry, Ford has expressed interest in potentially introducing a new multi-purpose SUV to its European pipeline, planning its production in Valencia. However, they emphasized that an official decision is expected and did not specify the model in question. Reports from Spanish media suggest it could be a hybrid and an all-new car.
The Valencia plant, which currently employs 4,800 people, currently produces the Kuga SUV model after ceasing production of other models such as the Mondeo mid-size car, S-Max and Galaxy minivans.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the news, saying it bodes well for Valencia and Ford Spain workers. He praised Ford's decision to potentially produce electric cars, underscoring the plant's viability in the coming years.
The General Workers Union (UGT) also expressed optimism about the outlook, predicting a positive impact on employment and workload at the Almusafes plant.
Ford previously announced its intentions to build its next-generation electric cars in Valencia, using a new platform developed in the US.