Automotive News Europe — 2024-05-10
Automotive Industry
Ford may build a second hybrid model at its Valencia factory as the company scales back its goal to become all-electric in Europe by 2030.
Ford plans annual production of 300,000 units of a new model at its Spanish plant starting in 2027, Spain's Industry Ministry said.
"It is a model that will guarantee the workload for this factory and prepare it for the future," the ministry said in a statement on Friday, 10 May 2024.
Ford currently builds the Kuga compact SUV at its plant in Valencia, Spain after output of other models including the Galaxy and S-Max minivans, and Mondeo midsize car was cut back in recent years.
A Ford Spain spokesperson said the automaker plans to start production of a new partly electric car in Valencia in 2027. The car will be built for markets in Europe and elsewhere, the spokesperson said.
Ford said in March 2024 that is considering building a new ‘multi-energy’ passenger car model in Valencia, without giving any more details. The Kuga built in Valencia is available in plug-in hybrid, full hybrid or combustion-engine versions.
Ford is rethinking its plan to sell only full-electric cars in Europe by 2030 as EV sales fail to take off. The automaker has previously said it will build its next-generation full-electric vehicles in Valencia on a new US-developed platform.
Ford says it could continue to sell combustion engine cars after 2030 if buyers want them.
"If we see strong demand, for instance for plug-in hybrid vehicles, we will offer them," Martin Sander, head of Ford's passenger cars business in Europe, told the Financial Times Future of the Car conference on 7 May 2024.