Geely Weighs Building Body-on-Frame SUVs at Ford's Spanish Plant

Geely is evaluating whether to assemble body-on-frame SUVs at Ford’s factory in Spain, a move that could hand the Chinese automaker a European production foothold and give the Blue Oval’s underused facility a new lease on life. The talks point to a broader trend of Chinese manufacturers seeking local capacity in Europe rather than relying solely on imports.

Body-on-frame SUVs are a niche in Europe, where car-based crossovers dominate, but they carry higher margins and appeal to buyers who want genuine off-road capability. Producing them inside the EU could help Geely sidestep tariffs and logistics costs while shortening delivery times for European customers.

For Ford, farming out capacity at its Spanish site would be a way to keep the plant busy as its own European lineup shifts toward electrified models. Neither company has confirmed a final decision, and any agreement would depend on cost, volume and regulatory considerations.

The potential tie-up also reflects how established automakers and newer Chinese players are increasingly exploring shared manufacturing, a strategy that can reduce risk on both sides while accelerating the rollout of new models.