Ford to produce hybrid versions of the C-Max in Almussafes for European and American markets

Ford is planning to produce electrical hybrid versions of its five-seater C-Max people carrier in Almussafes in Valencia which will be sold exclusively in Europe according to an announcement made by the Chairman of Ford, John Fleming yesterday. He said that the seven-seater version of this model would be exported to the United States from 2011 onwards and would be the first model produced in Europe destined for the American market.

During the presentation of the new C-Max people carrier to be produced in Spain the Chairman of Ford in Europe said that Ford was planning to invest 384.7 million euros in the manufacturing plant in Almussafes between 2009 and 2013, out of which 230.7 million euros would be concentrated in producing the C-Max people carrier and around 27 million in the electrical hybrid models announced yesterday. The hybrid vehicles show Ford’s commitment to extending to Europe its strategy of launching a total of five models with electric batteries and hybrids by 2013.

The hybrid models and the electrical hybrid models are in addition to the electrical Transit model announced for 2011 and an electric version of the new generation Ford Focus planned for 2012. The fifth model will be an electrical hybrid version. In his announcement Fleming guaranteed the stability of the workforce in the Almussafes plant which currently numbers 6,750 employees.