New enginesuccess for Ford Bridgend
Ford’s Bridgend engine plant has been awarded the contract to produce two new Land Rover and Volvo engines. Bridgend had been in global competition within Ford for the contract, including a number of sites across Europe. The contract will bring over 500 jobs to the region in the next three years.
Bridgend aims to make a million engines by 2010 – including the new V8 engine for the 2006 Range Rover and the 1.6-litre petrol Zetec SE engine for the new Volvo S40 saloon. The new contract will add to the wide range of engines that make Bridgend one of Europe’s most diverse plants.
The new orders will see the workforce at the only engine plant in south Wales increase from 1500 to 2000 by 2008. Plant manager Bob Murphy said: ‘Once again the Ford Bridgend team have shown how this facility can supply engines to different parts of the organisation without compromising any brands.’
