Ford announces the end of production of its S-MAX and Galaxy

Coinciding with the announcement of the end of production of the small Ford Fiesta in the old continent, Ford Europe has also announced that production of the only people carriers still in the brand’s catalogue, the Ford S-MAX (road test) and Galaxy, will end next month, April 2023.

Let’s recall that both models enjoyed their greatest sales success in Europe between 2006 and 2011, years deeply marked by the trend towards people carriers, since at that time the SUV craze had not yet taken hold in our markets. The Ford Galaxy can boast more than 820,000 units sold across Europe since production began in 1996, and the S-MAX more than 570,000 units.

Only stock units available

With all this, the Ford Almussafes plant in Valencia will take these two people carriers off its production lines. They were once the brand’s spearhead in terms of sales numbers, and their order books have already closed. According to the company, this does not represent a significant loss for the plant, since production of the two models currently accounts for only 6% of the plant’s total output.

For now, and everything points to this remaining the case for a considerable time, the brand’s plans do not include launching any new model to fill the gap left by these two people carriers. The only models with good interior space left in the brand’s range are the Ford Kuga, the Explorer and the Tourneo Connect. It should also be noted that the Mondeo left our market a few months ago.

Ford has not communicated that any Employment Regulation File (ERE) will be necessary at the Valencia plant, although a restructuring of its workforce focused on manufacturing new 100% electric models, due to arrive soon, will be carried out.