Ford is reportedly delaying production investment plans for plants in Spain and citing a ‘revised outlook for Europe’ as the reason.
Reuters reported that Ford said in a statement it will not ask for a share of Spain’s EU pandemic relief funds to invest in the rollout of EVs by June 2025, but said it will work with local authorities to identify other potential public funding as it moves to an all-electric fleet of passenger vehicles by 2030.
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The news agency said Ford did not give further details on its revised outlook for Europe. Earlier this week Ford said it would cut a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs, mostly in North America and India.
In June the company said it will invest in Spain and that its plant in Valencia is the preferred site to assemble vehicles based on a next-generation electric vehicle architecture. It said then that pending product approval, the Valencia plant could produce breakthrough electric and connected vehicles ‘beginning later this decade’.
According to the Reuters report, Ford said no jobs will be cut at its plant in Valencia ‘for now’ although the carmaker has long said there will be some restructuring of its workforce as electric cars require fewer labour hours to assemble.
Reuters noted that Ford had applied in May for Spain’s EU pandemic relief funds and had been allocated EUR106m in a first provisional allotment, but withdrew its application on Tuesday ahead of a deadline for potential changes, the Spanish government said.
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