MADRID, May 10 Reuters U.S. automaker Ford plans to assemble 300,000 units of a new model per year at its Spanish plant in the Valencia region starting 2027, Spain39;s Industry Ministry said on Friday.

The company had said in March it was considering making a new sports utility vehicle SUV at its plant in Valencia.

It is a model that will guarantee the workload for this factory and prepares it for the future, the ministry said in a statement.

Ford currently assembles its Kuga SUV at the plant, which employs 4,800 people, after output of other models was cut back in recent years.

A spokesperson at Ford Spain did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reporting by Inti Landauro and Matteo Allievi; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Jason Neely

Source Reuters