Factory status and Ford’s plans for Almussafes
The local government of Almussafes welcomes Ford’s decision to assign a new model to the plant, a move that promises to sustain production, reassure workers, and cast a hopeful outlook for the supplier network. The mayor, Toni González, expressed satisfaction with the multinational’s announcement as a sign of deeper commitment to the Valencian facility.
The aim is for the Almussafes plant to build a new passenger vehicle model, a commitment that ensures steady workflow in a plant that had to adjust production when sales slowed. On April 17, the Transit van will cease production at the site.
The multinational’s pledge to the Valencian plant opens a new, hopeful chapter for Ford, which has reduced production and workforce since the pandemic and is currently operating under a Temporary Employment Regulation (ERTE) until April 19. This situation has direct implications for the supplier park, and the future of electrification remains undecided.
Selected factory for electric vehicles
Ford Almussafes was chosen in 2022 to produce its new electric vehicle platform starting in 2025, though that plan had not yet materialized, and last November Ford signaled a delay in any decision on the matter.
Details about the new model, the units to be manufactured at the plant, the jobs to be guaranteed, and the investments and timelines for the project will not be finalized until the April 10 meeting in Cologne.
Request for public support
The mayor also regards the company’s application to the two strands of the new call for projects under the Strategic Recovery and Economic Transformation Plan for Electric and Connected Vehicles (Perte VEC II) as a stabilizing factor. He notes that the Ministry of Industry has allocated 37.6 million to set up a battery assembly plant at Almussafes and that Ford has also requested funding aimed at the electric vehicle value chain.
Despite these developments, officials stress the need for vigilance and ongoing communication. The municipal government intends to stay in close contact with the regional administration, federations, unions, APPI Ribera Baixa, and other economic and business actors to safeguard the automotive sector’s future.
In the words of Toni González: there is no room for complacency, and the city will maintain continuous dialogue with regional authorities and industry stakeholders to ensure a vibrant automotive ecosystem.