Ford Prepares for EV Production in Valencia, Spain and Cologne, Germany

Ford of Europe announced this week that they will be revamping their plants in both Valencia, Spain and Cologne, Germany in order to fill the rising demand for electric vehicles throughout Europe. Between the two locations, they plan to release an electric version of the popular Ford Puma, electrified Ford Pro vehicles, and EV connected services over the course of the next few years.

The Valencia plant has been selected as the home of the next generation of European Ford electric vehicles, based on a new electric vehicle architecture. It will be producing vehicles like the electrified Puma and other cutting edge models within the decade.

The plant in Cologne will be receiving a $2 billion investment to facilitate the conversion, and will be focusing mainly on electric passenger vehicles going forward. The Cologne Electrification Centre is scheduled to begin production by late 2023.

“We are accelerating our transformation in Europe, reimagining how we do business and building a future where amazing vehicles and relentless focus on customer experience goes hand-in-hand with protecting our planet,” said Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe and chief transformation & quality officer, Ford Motor Company.

Ford plans to sell 600,000 electric vehicles in Europe every year by 2026. As EV sales across all of Europe continue to rise, up 65% to a total of 2.3 million in 2021, feeding this demand becomes more and more necessary. Earlier this month the European Parliament voted to set new CO2 targets for light-duty vehicles, as well as a requirement for all new vehicle sales to consist of 100% zero emission vehicles by 2035, accelerating the transition to EVs in Europe even more. Ford’s next-generation EV technology will be critical to this process, and it provides a golden opportunity for Ford to advance the company’s goals of eco-friendliness and compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement.

“We are committed to building a vibrant, sustainable business in Europe as part of our Ford+ plan, and that requires focus and making tough choices,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “The European auto industry is extremely competitive, and to thrive and grow we can never settle for less than unbelievably great products, a delightful customer experience, ultra-lean operations and a talented and motivated team.”