MADRID, May 10 (Reuters) - U.S. automaker Ford

plans to start production of a new partly electric car at its

plant in the Valencia region of Spain starting in 2027, a

company spokesperson said on Friday.

Ford had said in March that it was considering making a new,

multi-energy passenger car at its Valencia plant.

Spain's Industry Ministry said the carmaker aimed to produce

300,000 units of the new vehicle annually. "It is a model that

will guarantee the workload for this factory and prepare 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 cutting back output of other models

in recent years.

The Ford Spain spokesperson said the new car will be

assembled for markets in Europe and elsewhere.