Ford (
www.corporate.ford.com) has announced a 42 million euro investment in its Valencia (Spain) manufacturing plant to support its electrification strategy with a ‘state of the art battery’ assembly facility, in addition to new S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid models.
Two new assembly lines will enable the advanced lithium-ion batteries that help power the all-new Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, the all-new Kuga Hybrid, the new S-MAX Hybrid and the Galaxy Hybrid to be produced alongside the vehicles for greater manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
Delivered through a 24 million euro investment, the new battery assembly facility will begin production in September this year. When introduced in early 2021, the new S-MAX Hybrid sport activity vehicle and Galaxy Hybrid people mover will deliver ‘enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and greater refinement’.
Ford says the currently unique-to-segment electrified powertrain will offer a ‘compelling alternative’ to its EcoBlue diesel-powered models without compromising their interior space, comfort or flexibility.
Production of the new self-charging electrified S-MAX and Galaxy variants has been enabled by an additional 8 million euro investment in new tooling and assembly line upgrades at the Valencia facility.
A further 10 million euro investment supports production of the all-new Kuga Hybrid SUV. Ford plans to introduce 14 electrified vehicles in Europe by the end of 2020.
Stuart Rowley, president of Ford of Europe, said: “With electrification fast becoming the mainstream, we are increasing our investment in Valencia to provide even more electrified models and powertrain options for our customers.
“By making it easier than ever to transition to an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.”
Ford has invested 3 billion euros in its Valencia facility since 2011, including 750 million euros to support production of the Kuga — Ford’s ‘most electrified’ vehicle ever, with a comprehensive line-up that includes plug-in hybrid, mild-hybrid and full-hybrid variants.