Last week Ford confirmed that the summer the mythical Ford Fiesta disappeared from its catalog. And, at the same time, news that affects Spain more. The two large minivans that are manufactured in Almussafes (Valencia), the Ford S-Max and the Ford Galaxy, will stop being manufactured next spring.
No direct successor models to these models are envisaged. The oval firm will focus on electric cars, mainly SUVs and crossovers, while reducing its catalog in Europe. So they will be taken care of orders placed so far and the plant will lose the production of two very interesting models, especially with the hybrid mechanics that we tested a few months ago (we were never so embarrassed to title the video minivan in extinction… and hit so literally).
Tension in Almussafes
The two minivans were not too important for the Valencian plant, since it is barely 6% of its production. What is worrying is that Ford’s strategy towards the total electrification of its passenger cars in 2030 (and of its entire portfolio in 2035) does not propose an alternative so far. Let us remember that last March they also lost the Ford Mondeo from their assembly line.
The plant is currently in an ERTE due to the lack of components. Throughout this week, this temporary work regulation will be applied again, which had already been extended due to the instability in the arrival of semiconductors and components at the factory, we read in Expansion. The shutdown affects both the vehicle plant and the assembly of engines and machining. Despite the fact that parts supply was said to be improving in September, it was decided to extend the ERTE until December 31.
With fewer cars to manufacture (only the Kuga and the Transit remain, although the former is more than half of production), everything seems to indicate that staff adjustments will arrive, which today reaches 6,000 employees.
Let us remember that Almussafes prevailed over the German plant in Saarlouis when it came to deciding which plant would manufacture the new electric models from 2026. Also that a battery plant will be built in Sagunto (vital for the Valencian plant, as well as for those of Volkswagen in Navarra and Catalonia)… but not what models will be manufactured in Almussafes. Yes, Colonia, already an orphan of the Fiesta, will focus on an electric Puma and a somewhat larger SUV, on the MEB platform shared by Volkswagen.
Two electric cars would have to arrive in Almussafes on the GE2 architecture, an evolution of the one carried by the Mustang Mach-E. But no matter how well the models sell, it seems inevitable that there will be a cut in the workforce due to the lower workload required by the electric models, something already confirmed even by the UGT, the majority union.
The downsizing It could affect a thousand workers, although the most pessimistic forecasts raise this figure to 30% of the workforce, some 1,800 employees. The end of the Transit (which will be replaced by a fully electric van), would mean a significant loss of jobs and speed up the process.