More job cuts coming for Ford of Europe

FORD of Europe is said to be planning further job cuts amid an ongoing sales slump in the region.

Head of works council at Ford Cologne plant, Benjamin Gruschka, told Reuters that a restructuring plan aims to cut the number of employees in Ford facilities across Germany, Spain, and the UK.

The new wave of job cuts come on top of a previously announced restructuring program and are expected to be announced by the end of this month (June).

Ford of Europe has already halfway completed its previous restructuring plan of 2300 job cuts in Germany, reducing staff numbers there to 13,000, according to Mr Gruschka.

Last year, Ford said it will cut 3800 jobs in Europe as it shifts toward electric vehicle production, which requires less personnel.

Ford said this month that it plans to cut a further 1600 jobs at its Valencia plant in Spain.

The news comes following announcements that Ford has axed its traditionally high-selling (but low-margin) passenger cars, including the Fiesta and Focus as it shifts to introduce more SUVs and all-electric vehicles.

Ford began full series production of its Explorer battery-electric SUV (pictured) in Cologne on June 4. A second model, which GoAuto understands to be a coupe-SUV take on the same vehicle, and likely named Capri, will be unveiled on July 10.

Ford passenger vehicle sales across the EU, EFTA, and UK fell 15.0 per cent to 152,552 units in the first quarter of 2024, according to industry association ACEA. Its market share fell accordingly from 4.3 to 3.4 per cent.

With Reuters