Ford has announced plans to cut approximately 4,000 jobs across Europe, including 800 in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and 3,000 in Germany, as it navigates the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs).
The job cuts, which represent around 14 per cent of Ford's European workforce of 28,000, are expected to be implemented by the end of 2027.
Despite these cuts, Ford's Halewood and Dagenham factories will not be affected, according to the company.
However, with a total of 5,300 employees in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, six other sites may face impact. These include a research and development centre in Dunton, Essex, and a parts distribution centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire, as reported by .
This move comes amidst challenges faced by European car manufacturers, who are grappling with lower-than-anticipated demand for EVs and stiff competition from an influx of Chinese carmakers.
Volkswagen, a German car manufacturer, is currently planning to shut down three of its factories, reduce worker pay by 10 per cent, and lay off thousands of employees. The industry has also been hit by inflation and high energy costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Today's announcement marks the second time in recent years that Ford has reduced its workforce, having previously cut 1,300 jobs in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ in 2023.
"It's not the news anyone wants to hear at any time. So our aim is to try to deliver this through voluntary redundancy," remarked Lisa Brankin, head of Ford Britain and Ireland. She further commented on the current industry climate saying: "The automotive industry is going through a period of massive disruption at the moment... We've got unprecedented competition, regulation and lots of economic headwinds."
Like this story? Why not sign up here for free to get the latest business news straight to your inbox.
