Speech by the President of the Government of Spain following his visit to the Ford plant in Almussafes

Good morning and thank you very much. Firstly, to the Vice-president, Yolanda; to the minister for the relevant portfolio, Jordi; to the Minister for Science, Diana; to the President of the Generalitat; to the Government Delegate for the Valencian Community; to the CEO of Geely Automobile International Corporation; to the President of Ford Europe, Jim; to the Director of the Ford plant in Almussafes; and to the authorities. We would also like to thank the trade union representatives, all the workers, and the media covering this important event. Thank you very much for allowing us to share this very important, historic day with all of you.

Look, two years ago - less than two years ago - the storm hit these very regions with tremendous force. And the worst consequence, without a doubt, was the loss of human lives. And the immense pain caused by that tragedy has left thousands of families in a situation which, of course, all our institutions are mindful of today.

But that wasn't the only one. The very future of this dynamic, enterprising land was seriously jeopardised. That is why I believe this event has a very special significance, because today we are gathering for that reason - to talk about recovery, confidence, growth and prosperity, not only for this province, but for the Valencian Community as a whole. That is what the agreement between Ford and Geely represents: the future.

And so today I have the privilege of sharing this good news in the presence of those who embody the spirit of this factory: the entire workforce at Ford Almussafes.

Industrial decisions of this scale are not driven by financial statements and business strategies; they need firm ground on which to take root. And that is what this region has to offer: technological expertise, knowledge, talent and, above all, the best human capital. That is Almussafes, and that is what has made this inspiring partnership possible.

I would therefore like to thank the management teams at Ford, particularly Jim, and at Geely, led by Alex, for their leadership. I would also like to acknowledge everyone who has helped make this project a reality.

Look, the decision to develop this new project here demonstrates something very important, namely Spain's ability to attract major investment and to play a part in the major transformations that are shaping the future of mobility. And I think that's crucial in the times we live in. An era characterised by electrification, digitalisation and global competition in the automotive sector - a sector which, as you know far better than I do, is undergoing a complete and far-reaching transformation. And, in this context, strategic alliances are a prerequisite for competing and taking the lead.

In this project, Ford is clearly bringing its expertise to the European market, along with its industrial capacity and the strength of a brand that is closely linked to this region, to Valencia, and, of course, to Spain as a whole. Geely brings its technological platforms, its expertise in electrification, its rapid development capabilities and a global reach that clearly broadens the horizons of Almussafes within the sustainable mobility paradigm.

Spain wants to play its part and join this great leap forwards. What's more, the figures show that we are on the right track. During the first half of the year, registrations of electric or electrified vehicles rose by nearly 40%, and one in four vehicles sold in our country now falls into this category. Change is therefore already underway.

Our aim is clear: we want this transformation to lead to more industry, more jobs and more businesses. Jobs that are clearly more stable, require higher skills and offer better prospects.

As you know, the Government of Spain has been fully committed to driving this transformation over the years. There is the PERTE programme for electric and connected vehicles, which has mobilised 4.8 billion euros. To what end? To attract investment, to drive innovation and to strengthen the value chain. It has been a real obsession for us. It still is today. The directors and leaders of the two companies here with us know this all too well.

They know that investing in the value chain in our country, in Europe, is essential and a priority for the Government of Spain.

And, together with the whole sector, as you know, we have drawn up the Auto 2030 Plan with a clear conviction: that the energy transition - and therefore sustainability, as mentioned earlier - should also be an asset for reindustrialisation and for strengthening Spain's leadership in Europe.

Clearly, no public strategy could succeed without companies willing to invest and without workers committed to the future. And both of these conditions are met here in Almussafes. A workplace where dialogue, responsibility and the pursuit of consensus have always been paramount. That is why I would also like to expressly acknowledge the work of the plant management, the trade unions and, of course, the entire workforce. Thanks to this collective effort, this factory has managed to remain competitive and prepare for a new phase which will, without a doubt, be even more promising than all the years you have spent working here.

The Government of Spain's role will be to support that effort. From our modest position in the opposition, we have tried to contribute to this.

A few years ago, we threw our weight behind the cause to ensure that Ford would commit to this plant in its restructuring plans. Bear in mind that in 2024 we approved the first RED mechanism - isn't that right, vice-president? - at a regional level, which, incidentally, we are going to extend until the end of 2026. So thanks to this instrument - which, as both Vice-president Yolanda Díaz and Minister Jordi mentioned to me just as we were on our way here, has cost around 45 million euros - Ford and its main suppliers have been able to safeguard jobs, facilitate the training of around 4,000 workers - as Daniel was just telling us - and thus support the transition to new production processes.

And, furthermore, we will remain committed, Mr Chairman. We remain committed to working alongside the Valencian Regional Government to find ways of providing financial support, as early as 2026, for the battery assembly project, which is also of vital importance to the Government of Spain given its significant role in driving the entire Valencian industrial ecosystem, and I would say for the country as a whole as well.

In short, workers - both men and women. I believe this plant in Almussafes is the best example of an economic policy - an industrial policy - that places public-private partnerships and industrial decarbonisation at the heart of the agenda and as the main pillars of the present and future competitiveness of the automotive industry in Spain.

I believe we have cause to celebrate today, as we are reaping the rewards of this joint endeavour in the best possible way; this marks the realisation of an investment that is a testament to trust. Trust in this plant. Trust in the Valencian Community, trust in Spanish industry. And, above all, trust in all of you who walk through the doors of this factory every day, so that Almussafes may continue to be synonymous with industrial excellence.

This agreement - as we discussed privately earlier - does not mark the end of any process. It marks the start of a new chapter. A new era characterised by greater innovation, greater technological capacity, more opportunities, more high-quality jobs and greater sustainability.

You can therefore count on the Government of Spain, and I wish you the very best of luck and would like to congratulate you all and your families, because I am convinced that today is a very special and very important day, which we want to celebrate with all of you.

That is all, thank you very much.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)