Chinese carmaker Geely has acquired part of a Ford assembly facility in Spain and is planning to produce one of its models at the site, Spanish trade publication La Tribuna de Automocion reported, citing unnamed industry sources.
The plant in question is located at Ford’s Almussafes facility in Valencia, where Geely is said to have purchased the Body 3 vehicle assembly operations. The report also noted that both companies are considering a potential arrangement for Geely to build a model on behalf of Ford.
Geely did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report published on Tuesday. A Ford representative described the report as speculation and declined to comment.
The move comes as Geely, China’s second-largest automaker after BYD, continues to expand its manufacturing presence in Europe as Chinese manufacturers seek to avoid tariffs and comply with stricter regulations on imported vehicles.
The company has also been engaged in broader discussions on shared vehicle technologies, first reported by Reuters in February, as part of its wider international expansion strategy.
Separately, La Tribuna de Automocion reported that SAIC Motor is considering a site in Ferrol, a port town in northwestern Spain’s Galicia region, for potential European production. The publication cited sources familiar with the discussions.
The Galician government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In April, Galician Premier Alfonso Rueda visited SAIC Motor’s headquarters in Zhengzhou as part of efforts to attract Chinese investment into the region.
Reuters
