Ford confirms the manufacturing of a brand new automobile on the Almussafes plant and ensures its fast future | Companies | EUROtoday

Ford's international administration has dedicated to assigning the Almussafes (Valencia) manufacturing facility the manufacturing of a passenger automobile with which the manufacturing facility will “maintain sufficient workload” whereas the way forward for electrification is set, as defined by the corporate. majority union within the plant, UGT.

This was conveyed by the worldwide president of the agency, Jim Farley, to the employees' representatives on the assembly held this Wednesday between Ford's international and European administration and the European Works Council in Dunton (England), which for the union concluded “in a positive and constructive way.” On April 10, the main points of this project can be delved into at a brand new assembly that can happen in Cologne.

This determination represents a respite for the Almussafes manufacturing facility, which as of April 17 was left with a single manufacturing mannequin – the Kuga, because it stops producing the Transit van – and is immersed in a short lived regulation file. employment (ERTE) till April 19. The project of a brand new mannequin makes it potential to ensure the fast way forward for the manufacturing facility, with a workforce of near 4,800 individuals.

In simply six years, the Valencian manufacturing facility has gone from producing nearly 370,000 vehicles in 2018 of 5 totally different fashions, to creating slightly below 212,000 final yr, which represents a drop of 42%. In between, the manufacturing facility, along with the approaching lack of the van, stopped making the Mondeo, the S-Max and the Galaxy.

The manufacturing facility has confronted uncertainty for months in regards to the arrival of the required investments to supply the oval agency's electrical autos. The Valencian manufacturing facility was chosen in 2022 to supply its new electrical automobile platform beginning in 2025, however the mandatory investments for this haven’t materialized or been introduced and final November Ford introduced that it was suspending “any determination that has to do with investments”.

This meeting was expected to be key to finalizing what was advanced by the vice president of Ford of Europe, Kieran Caghill, in a meeting with the union last February, in which he stated that the company was “working on an alternative to solve the problem.” ” that has originated in the factory due to the uncertainty generated by the electric car today.

Thus, this Thursday, the European Works Council reported, in a statement, that during Wednesday's meeting “alternatives and subsequent steps” for the future of the firm were identified and that “this features a passenger automobile that can be added to the vary deliberate in Europe, which can be manufactured in Valencia.”

In a press release to the employees of the Valencian plant, UGT has said that “the first and main” conclusion of the assembly is that “there will be solutions for Almussafes although logically it will not be a matter of a few days.” “Ford Global CEO Jim Farley's commitment has been clear. Almussafes will have a new vehicle and will maintain a sufficient workload,” highlighted the union, which considers that “this decision demonstrates the company's commitment to Valencia, a consequence of the Agreement for Electrification.”

UGT has identified that “the main thing is resolved, which does not mean that everything is resolved,” and has defined that there can be a brand new assembly on April 10 in Cologne and, “once the number of units to be manufactured has been quantified, as well as the employment that it will guarantee, and the investment and launch dates, we will have to design the transit to be carried out until that car is a reality on the manufacturing lines,” he added.

In this manner, “in the coming weeks” there can be “a clearer x-ray of the situation. The union has stressed that the staff “enjoys the respect and recognition of the company's global management, as a result of many years of experience, both for their abilities to take on challenges and for the agreements reached.”

In addition, he detailed that the meeting analyzed “the current and future situation of the automobile in Europe and the United States, and the interest that the sector market arouses in new emerging competitors, mainly Asian who, added to the delay in electrification , complicates decision making.”

The dedication of worldwide administration comes at a time when the Almussafes manufacturing facility has prolonged the Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTE) that’s in pressure till April 19, which impacts a most of 700 individuals per day. in automobile vegetation, as a result of the launch of the Kuga mannequin won’t enhance its manufacturing as a consequence of “supplier problems” till that day. Added to that is that the seventeenth of that month would be the final day of manufacturing of the Transit van.

In precept, electrification was to make sure the workload within the coming years in Almussafes, which led to an settlement with UGT in order that the corporate's new settlement included decrease wage and adaptability measures conditional on electrification. The award to Almussafes didn’t forestall the workforce from having to be resized with an ERE that has affected 1,124 staff. However, the freezing of electrification plans by administration, primarily as a consequence of the truth that the sale of electrical vehicles is just not taking off, set off all of the alarms for the way forward for the plant.

Positive reactions

The Valencian automotive cluster, represented by the Valencian Association of the Automotive Industry (AVIA) and emerged because of Ford's set up in Almussafes in 1976, has been one of many first to react positively to the allocation of the brand new automobile. The tractor impact of the manufacturing facility generates almost 25,000 direct jobs pending for the multinational that has an essential provider base within the city 20 kilometers from Valencia. The president of AVIA, Francisco Segura, has indicated that the information “is always positive”, though for associates “it is very important to know the dates and volumes” to have the ability to “correctly plan” the work of all suppliers.

Segura has highlighted in a press release that your complete worth chain of the automotive and mobility sector “is more than prepared to undertake the provision of components, whatever the vehicle model that the Almussafes plant houses.” He has acknowledged that this announcement is essential “to maintain confidence that the Almussafes plant remains in the development plans” of the multinational, and has proven his confidence that Ford will develop the Valencian plant sooner moderately than later.

Ford has utilized for each strains of the brand new name for the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of the Electric and Connected Vehicle (Perte VEC II). The Ministry of Industry has awarded 37.6 million euros from the battery line to ascertain a battery meeting plant on the Almussafes manufacturing facility and Ford has additionally requested help for the electrical automobile worth chain.

The president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, of the PP, has described as “exceptional and magnificent” the dedication of the worldwide administration of Ford Motor Company. “The manufacturing of a new vehicle at the Almussafes plant consolidates the automotive ecosystem in the Valencian Community and highlights a key industry for our land,” mentioned the pinnacle of the Consell. Mazón congratulated the Ford Almussafes staff and its staff, and acknowledged the “effort of all the Administrations for a project that we have built together and that is very important to maintain.”

“We congratulate Ford and the entire Almussafes staff,” mentioned the Secretary of State for Industry, Valencian Rebeca Torró. “This good news is the result of the joint work that has been developed and reinforces the commitment of the Government of Spain to continue advancing in the transition towards sustainable mobility and consolidate the future of the automotive sector in our country, the second largest vehicle manufacturer in the world. Europe”, he indicated. She has celebrated the excellent news for him cluster Valencian and the entire of Spain.

Follow all the knowledge Five days in Facebook, X y Linkedinor nuestra publication Five Day Agenda