Severe storms recently hit parts of Valencia, causing widespread disruption and damage across the region.
Reopens Monday
Following the storm, Ford’s Valencia plant is resuming production this week, though operations will be limited to a single morning shift.
The engine plant will reopen Monday, while the vehicle assembly line will start again on Wednesday, according to El Economista.
Ford’s decision to operate on a reduced schedule reflects current road conditions, the impact on workers affected by the storm, and the limited availability of suppliers.
Union leaders from UGT, the plant’s largest union, stated that employees will be contacted on Monday and Tuesday.
This check-in will assess how storm-affected workers are doing and determine the specific conditions needed to resume production more fully.
Operations will stay on a single morning shift initially, with plans to evaluate whether regular two-shift operations can resume in the coming weeks.
Unsafe for Employees
On October 30, Ford closed the plant due to “force majeure,” as travel restrictions and storm damage made it unsafe for employees.
On November 6, the company announced a temporary layoff plan (ERTE), covering October 29 through November 30. During this period, Ford has pledged to pay 100% of all wages.
The Valencia plant is also working through a separate workforce reduction (ERE), which affects 626 employees. Of these, 65% are taking early retirement, while 35% are accepting incentivized departures.
The resulting workforce will be just over 4,000 employees, focused on producing the Ford Kuga SUV in fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions.
In January 2025, a special ERTE is expected to take effect with support from the Spanish government and the Generalitat Valenciana.
This plan will help manage the transition until the plant begins producing a new multi-energy vehicle model, scheduled for 2027.
