It employs 9% of Spain’s labor force and produced a record 2.7 million vehicles last year, 80% exported. In Vitoria, northern Spain, lies Daimler’s second-largest van plant world-wide, where the German car maker produces the Mercedes Vito and V-Class midsize vans. The car sector accounted for 8.7% of Spain’s gross domestic product last year, up from 5.2% in 2005, according to ANFAC, the country’s association of car manufacturers. Spain needs to “reach a national consensus on how to increase the skills of its workers,” said Prof. Basco. Ford plans to invest €2.3 billion in the Valencia plant by 2020.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 07, 2016 23:45 UTC