VALENCIA, Spain, Jan. 16, 2020 – Ford today announced a €42 million investment in its Valencia manufacturing plant, Spain, to support the company’s electrification strategy with a state-of-the-art battery assembly facility in addition to new S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid models.
Two new assembly lines will enable the advanced lithium-ion batteries that help power all-new Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, all-new Kuga Hybrid, and new S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid to be produced alongside the vehicles for greater manufacturing efficiency and sustainability. Delivered through a €24 million investment, the new battery assembly facility will begin production in September this year.
When introduced in early 2021, the new S-MAX Hybrid sport activity vehicle and Galaxy Hybrid people mover will deliver enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and greater refinement. The currently unique-to-segment electrified powertrain will offer a compelling alternative to Ford’s EcoBlue diesel-powered models without compromising interior space, comfort or flexibility.
Production of the new self-charging electrified S-MAX and Galaxy variants – powered by a 2.5‑litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine, electric motor, generator and lithium-ion battery – is enabled by an additional €8 million investment in new tooling and assembly line upgrades at Ford’s Valencia facility. A further €10 million investment supports production of the all-new Kuga Hybrid SUV. Ford is introducing 14 electrified vehicles in Europe by the end of 2020.
“With electrification fast becoming the mainstream, we are increasing our investment in Valencia to provide even more electrified models and powertrain options for our customers,” said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe. “By making it easier than ever to transition into an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.”
Ford has invested €3 billion in its Valencia facility since 2011, including €750 million to support production of Kuga – Ford’s most electrified vehicle ever with a comprehensive line-up including the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid (48-volt mild-hybrid) and Kuga Hybrid** (full-hybrid) variants.
S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid
The S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid share Ford’s latest full-hybrid architecture introduced with the all-new Kuga Hybrid, incorporating a water-cooled lithium-ion battery mounted in a crash absorbent, waterproof structure beneath the vehicle’s underbody for the most efficient use of space.
The S-MAX Hybrid will be available in five- and seven-seat configurations and will retain existing load space volume of up to 2,200 litres for the five-seat variant. The Galaxy Hybrid will feature seven seats as standard and offer optimised flexibility, retaining existing load space volume of 2,339 litres.*
Supported by a power-split automatic transmission, the S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid powertrains will deliver a targeted 200 PS and 210 Nm of torque for even better standing start and in-gear acceleration than Ford EcoBlue diesel powered models – and targeted 1,500 kg towing capability.
Able to deliver pure electric and combined petrol-electric propulsion for a refined and responsive driving experience, the models will deliver targeted 140 g/km CO2 emissions (WLTP) and significantly reduced NOx emissions.**
Further technologies designed to help drivers optimise efficiency without sacrificing comfort include:
The Ford S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid will join the line-ups that have sold almost 125,000 and 69,000 vehicles respectively since the latest generation models were introduced in 2015. S‑MAX recorded a 9 per cent increase in sales year-over-year between January and November 2019.
Ford also produces the Mondeo Hybrid and Mondeo Hybrid wagon models at its Valencia manufacturing facility.
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*Two-seat mode, laden to roof
**Officially homologated fuel-efficiency and CO2 emission figures will be published closer to on-sale date.
The declared fuel/energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel-efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.
Since 1 September 2017, certain new vehicles are being type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) according to (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended, which is a new, more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Since 1 September 2018 the WLTP has begun replacing the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which is the outgoing test procedure. During NEDC Phase-out, WLTP fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are being correlated back to NEDC. There will be some variance to the previous fuel economy and emissions as some elements of the tests have altered i.e., the same car might have different fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid CO2 emissions from 26 g/km, fuel efficiency from 1.2 l/100 km NEDC
Ford Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid CO2 emissions from 111 g/km, fuel efficiency from 4.3 l/100 km NEDC
Ford Mondeo Hybrid CO2 emissions from 94 g/km, fuel efficiency from 4.1 l/100 km NEDC
Ford Mondeo Hybrid wagon CO2 emissions from 99 g/km, fuel efficiency from 4.3 l/100 km NEDC
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 191,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 62,000 people when unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 19 manufacturing facilities (12 wholly owned facilities and seven unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
