Ford Almussafes operates as a factory exporter. Traditionally, most vehicles leaving the production lines went to other European countries. The American company recognized that some markets exceeded the registrations possible within Spain alone. Today, that trend is not reversing; it is growing, fueled by solid sales data in Spain since the start of the year.
So far in 2023, based on June data from the main union UGT, only 5.5 percent of the factory’s vehicles remained in the national region while production fell about 7.6 percent compared with 2022. This occurs as the plant paused the S-Max and Galaxy models, two vehicles with Spain among their key markets, during April; since then, there has been a recovery in the last four months. Vehicles bearing the Oval branding were sold across the continent.
European development
Data released this week by the European automakers association ACEA show that Ford sold a total of 226,752 vehicles in the European Union through July, ranking seventh among the 15 top brands with a 16,000 unit increase year over year, up 7.7 percent versus 2022. Ford was the only major manufacturer to post a negative result after the first quarter, down 1.8 percent from the previous year, making this rebound noteworthy in the broader market landscape.
When England figures are added to the balance, Ford gains even more momentum. Year over year, sales rose 12.6 percent to 317,225 vehicles, an increase of 35,500 units. Ford lagged only five manufacturers in sales growth, with three Volkswagen Group brands, Renault, and Dacia ahead of it in that measure.
The Importance of Kuga
The Ford Kuga stands out as a central pillar of Almussafes’ improvement. In the current period, the model took on a greater role, becoming a plug-in hybrid in July, one of the most registered versions across Europe. More than four out of ten Kuga units produced at the factory are destined for the United Kingdom, Germany or Italy, with 5,050 units sold in those markets, a remarkable 116 percent year-over-year increase. The Kuga’s performance underpins Ford’s overall growth in the region and highlights the model’s appeal in key European markets.
Overall, the Almussafes plant continues to contribute to Ford’s European expansion by shifting production toward models and configurations that meet the evolving preferences of major buyers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and beyond. The company’s strategy appears to leverage regional demand patterns while maintaining a strong export orientation that supports performance across Europe.