Ford Will Hike Production 40% at Valencia Plant

Ford Motor Co. says it will increase annual output 40% to 400,000 units at its factory in Valencia, Spain, this year. The facility has capacity to make 450,000 vehicles annually.

Ford has invested €2.3 billion in the complex over the past four years. The campus, which exports 80% of the vehicles it make, will build multiple body styles of six nameplates: Galaxy (seven-seat people mover) Kuga (small SUV), Mondeo (midsize car), Tourneo Connect (people mover), S-Max (MPV) and Transit Connect (small commercial van).

The latest expansion includes a new paint shop with automated processes and an 89,000 square-meter body shop that can make 2,000 units per day.

This year the Valencia complex also will add a special quality center to support Ford's new upscale Vignale product line. The new sub-brand will debut this summer with the Vignale Mondeo.