Ford has completed the final part a massive $2.6 billion investment since 2011 in its plant in Valencia, Spain, allowing it to produce 40 percent more vehicles in 2015 compared to last year.
The largest investment in the history of the Spanish auto industry will increase the Valencia plant’s capacity to around 400,000 units this year, close to its maximum annual capacity of 450,000 units, which makes it one of Ford’s largest and most flexible plants worldwide.
The investment consisted of an initial $1.25 billion announced in 2011, followed by a further $1.37 billion since 2013.
As a result, Valencia will be the sole European production source for all six Ford nameplates assembled at the plant: Mondeo, Kuga, S-MAX, Galaxy, Tourneo Connect and Transit Connect. The facility currently builds Mondeo wagon, five-door, and four-door including Mondeo Hybrid, Kuga SUV, Transit Connect light commercial vehicle and Tourneo Connect people-mover. Later this year, it will also begin production of the all-new S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs, as well as the Vignale Mondeo.
As part of the investment, a new 89,000 square-meter high-tech body shop was built, raising daily production capacity to 2,000 vehicles. Ford has also constructed an additional paint shop and retooled the plant to deliver an industry-first application of hydro-formed high strength steel for production of Mondeo and Mondeo Hybrid. Furthermore, since 2011 more than 900 new robots have been installed in the Valencia body shops, and 34 in the final assembly.
Ford now employs 8,000 people in Valencia, up from just below 5,000 in early 2013. Additionally, supplier operations supporting Valencia production have increased employment by 1,500 jobs since 2013.
The Valencia plant is one of Spain’s top automotive exporters, with 80 percent of its production being shipped to 75 countries worldwide, including North America.
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