Bridgend (UK)

As Ford became part of Ford-ofEurope, and sales boomed, Ford needed a new petrol engine plant. They chose a development site near the M4 at Bridgend in South Wales, which opened up in 1980, first to produce millions of CVH power units, followed by huge numbers of Zetec and Zetec SE 16-valve power units. From the mid-1990s, too, Bridgend began producing V8 (and in more modern times) V6 engines for Jaguar and Land Rover). When times are booming, Bridgend can, and does, produce 1 million engines a year — some of which have gone into cars like the Escort RS Turbo, the original Focus RS, and several ST models.