The multinational justifies its decision by arguing that it was unable to take advantage of Perte .’s financing due to tight deadlines
Ford has withheld funding of €106 million from European funds for fear of not being able to complete the transformation of the Almussafes electric vehicle production plant before 2026. This is the year in which the duration of the projects ends. Economic Recovery and Transformation (Perte) of the ‘Next Generation’ program and the multinational have not added up to overcome this race against time.
This move causes the oval brand to lose liquidity, forcing it to look for other sources of income. But all parties involved in this process insist that the future of the Almussafes factory is at no point in jeopardy, which is certain.
The Valencian factory won the internal competition imposed by the company after it won the German option from Saarlouis. Management had to decide whether to bet on one or the other to produce the new electrified cars that will represent the entire European business from 2030.
The multinational has reported that the revision of its roadmap for the old continent is “causing a delay in our production plans for Spain, which means that we will not be able to take advantage of the Perte financing program.”
The oval brand was one of the most benefited from the group, with 106 million allocated out of 700. Of this, 68.5 million corresponded to direct grants and 37.8 million to loans on very favorable terms. The main support went to Seat-Volkswagen, which will receive the most help from the closure of the Sagunto battery gigafactory project.
They want to make it clear from Ford that they “reinforce the commitment to our plant in Valencia, as Ford’s operations in Spain remain a fundamental part of our strategy for Europe.” We thank the Spanish Government for their cooperation and look forward to working with the Government of Spain and the Generalitat Valenciana to seek additional funding opportunities as we move towards a range of fully electric passenger cars by 2030.
The news surprised staff, who believed the uncertainty was over once the electrification of Spain’s facilities was confirmed. That is why the industrial committee led by UGT wanted to call for calm.
From the union, they emphasize that what was really “decisive and fundamental” for the allocation of the new Ford electric platform was “that the workers reach an agreement with the management, which ensures a stable working environment and guarantees the necessary investments to achieve that.” to be able to do.” transformation ». Something that has been achieved.
“We want to bring peace of mind to the workforce and to society as a whole, as it is not in question to make the investments that guarantee the construction of the electric platform enshrined in said agreement and which guarantees thousands of jobs in very good conditions they insist.
This call for calm has been reiterated by the Generalitat and the government, who are in direct contact with Ford. They insist that the future is secured and recall that there has always been a close collaboration, which has also manifested itself in other forms of aid, which will continue for years to come, despite the waiver of Perte funds.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
