Ford and Geely Forge Joint Venture in Spain

Ford Motor Company and Geely Automotive Holding Ltd. have officially entered into a joint venture based at Ford’s production facility in Valencia, Spain. The proposed structure sees Ford controlling 66 percent of the venture, while Geely holds the remaining 34 percent. The companies are targeting the first half of 2027 to commence operations, pending regulatory approvals, with initial production scheduled for 2028. Through this collaboration, both automakers aim to increase factory utilisation, reduce vehicle development costs, and accelerate the launch of new products for their respective brands. For Ford, the partnership is part of a strategy to strengthen its product lineup in Europe. For Geely, the cooperation accelerates its localisation efforts in the region, making it more competitive against other manufacturers. Under the announced product roadmap, the Valencia plant will continue to produce the Ford Kuga. Starting in 2028, the facility will also assemble a new compact SUV from the Bronco family, as well as a new Ford crossover developed in partnership with Geely, though Ford retains primary design control. Geely will use the facility to produce two new energy vehicles for the European market. The collaboration reflects Geely’s increasing global expansion, with the company recording export sales of 474,000 units in the first half of 2026, a 158 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. If the process proceeds as planned, this joint venture could become one of the largest collaboration models between a US and a Chinese automaker in Europe, underscoring how production efficiency and electric vehicle development have become the central focus of the global automotive industry.