(November 17, 2017) VALENCIA, Spain — Ford is investing more than $870 million in to build the next-generation Ford Kuga medium-sized Sports Utility Vehicle in Valencia, Spain. The new investment brings the total sum invested in Ford’s Valencia operations to around $3.5 billion since 2011.

“This major investment of more than $870 million reconfirms in the clearest way our continuing commitment to the Valencia region and to Spain as one of our most important manufacturing locations in Europe,” said Steven Armstrong, president and CEO, Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“I also want to thank the national government in Madrid and the Generalitat Valenciana for their continued support, and for their ongoing work to maintain a favorable climate for business investment in the Valencia region.”

Employing more than 8,000 people across all of its operations, the new investment will help to secure employment at Ford’s Valencia site. The investment builds on cost efficiency and productivity improvements by the management team, union partners and workforce.

Today, around 25 percent of all new passenger vehicles sold in Europe are SUVs. Kuga accounts for close to 50 percent of Valencia’s vehicle production volume. European sales of Kuga so far this year are at 126,900 are an improvement of 22 percent compared with the same period in 2016. Kuga is Ford’s third top-selling nameplate in Europe behind the Fiesta and Focus.

Further details concerning the new investment announcement and the next-generation Kuga will be made closer to launch.

Ford’s Valencia Vehicle Operations and Engine Plant has produced more than 12 million vehicles and 16 million engines since 1976, and is one of Spain’s top automotive exporters.

In addition to the Kuga medium-sized SUV, Valencia is the sole source of production for the Tourneo Connect people-mover and Transit Connect light commercial vehicle models, and for the full range of Ford’s Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models.

Valencia builds more nameplates and vehicles by volume than any other Ford plant in Europe. Around 90 percent of Valencia’s vehicle production is exported to more than 75 countries worldwide, including the United States.