Ford must cut back. It now costs an additional 800 employees in Europe the job. This time in England. At the same time, 3,200 others receive the same message.
Ford is now laying off 800 employees in England as part of a major restructuring of the passenger car business in Europe.
This happens as part of a strategy where the company tries to adapt to changing market conditions. The UK cuts will take place over the next three years and are part of an overall plan to cut around 4,000 jobs across Europe by 2027.
England and Germany are hit hardest by the cuts, which will mainly affect administrative positions and roles within product development.
However, production at Ford's factories in Dagenham and Halewood, as well as the logistics center in Southampton, will not be affected, the company says.
This is written by The Sun.
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According to Ford, the goal of the cuts is to create a more efficient and sustainable business in Europe.
A spokesman said the decision was driven by much lower-than-expected demand for new electric cars.
This means, among other things, that the production plan for the Explorer and Capri models will be adjusted. At the factory in Cologne, the employees have already been told that there is not enough work for them in the periods leading up to Christmas. They must therefore take a week off at a time in shifts.
– It is necessary to make difficult but decisive decisions to ensure Ford's competitiveness in Europe, says Dave Johnston, who is Ford's European vice president for transformation and partnerships.
Lisa Brankin, managing director of Ford of the UK, says the decision is difficult but necessary.
– It is never news that someone wants to pass on. And I am aware that it will have a significant impact on our employees. However, we will work to implement the process through voluntary resignations.
Ford emphasizes that the restructuring is necessary to prepare the company for future challenges and to adapt to the changing demands of the market.
Elsewhere in the European car industry, however, voluntary resignations and early retirement are not enough. In fact, Volkswagen's managing director believes that entire factory closures are necessary if he is also to have a job in the future. He also does not rule out layoffs.