• Ford’s Valencia, Spain, assembly plant now producing six Ford nameplates -- and multiple body styles and derivatives -- on a single assembly line

• Start of volume production of the all-new S-MAX and all-new Galaxy – plus the all new Ford Mondeo Vignale - add to existing production of Ford Mondeo , Kuga, Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect

• With a new Ford vehicle built every 80 seconds, the Spanish plant is on pace to build 400,000 units in 2015 – a 40 per cent increase over last year

• Ford has invested €2.3 billion since 2011 to develop one of the world’s most advanced, flexible and productive auto plants

• Eighty per cent of production exported to 75 countries worldwide, including North America

VALENCIA, Spain, May 20, 2015 – Ford today announced the volume production start of two all-new models at its plant in Valencia, Spain – the S-MAX multi-activity vehicle and the Galaxy seven-seat people-mover – plus the Ford Mondeo Vignale, the first of the Ford Vignale models which is the highest expression of the Ford brand in Europe, bringing together award-winning design and a unique ownership experience.

The mega-plant now produces six nameplates – and multiple body styles and derivatives -- off a single production line and has become one of the world’s most advanced, flexible and productive auto plants.

Ford has invested €2.3 billion since 2011 to expand and upgrade the plant. In addition to the three new models, the plant builds the Mondeo wagon, five-door, and four-door – including the Mondeo Hybrid – Kuga sport-utility vehicle, Transit Connect light commercial vehicle and Tourneo Connect people-mover.

“Our Valencia operation has become truly state of the industry in terms of flexibility, productivity and the innovation in manufacturing quality,” said Barb Samardzich chief operating officer, Ford of Europe.  “It’s incredible and virtually unprecedented to see a luxurious Ford Mondeo Vignale going down the same line with a Kuga SUV and Transit Connect commercial vehicle.

Valencia is among Ford’s most efficient facilities globally, and with new assembly line process introduced the plant now manages the increased complexity of producing more models and derivatives than any Ford facility in Europe. Highlights include:

• It will enable the plant to manage a much higher number of parts required for building the new models and handle 18,000 components compared to 7,000 before

• Valencia is expected to yield a 40 per cent production increase this year to about 400,000 vehicles – equivalent to one new Ford car rolling off the production line every 80 seconds – and will have the capacity to potentially build up to 450,000 vehicles a year in the future.

• Since 2011, more than 900 new robots have been installed in the Valencia body shop, and 34 in the final assembly area to help deliver the highest quality standards. Nearly 600 highly skilled engineers are involved in supporting the high-tech production processes in Valencia.

• This month, the new Vignale Quality Centre was opened in Valencia to support Ford’s new upscale Vignale product and ownership experience. Every Vignale model is hand-finished by a dedicated team of craftspeople, where vehicles receive 100 additional quality checks.

Valencia is today one of Spain’s top automotive exporters, with 80 per cent of its production being exported to 70 countries worldwide, including North America.