Ford to Cut 1,000 More Jobs in Germany Due to Low Demand for Electric Vehicles
The automotive giant Ford has announced that it plans to reduce its workforce by 1,000 more employees at its Cologne, Germany factory. This decision is due to the decrease in demand for electric vehicles, which has led the company to adjust its operations.
The measure is still subject to negotiations with the workers’ representatives. Ford reported that starting in January, production in Cologne will be limited to a single shift, compared to the current two shifts.
In May, Ford workers in Germany went on strike to protest the cutting of 2,900 jobs by the end of 2027 in administrative areas, development, and other functions, but without affecting vehicle production.
The Cologne plant currently has approximately 3,900 employees. Ford expects the staff reduction to be achieved through voluntary redundancies with compensation or early retirement.
The company has expressed its intention to avoid forced layoffs, but could resort to them if the desired number of voluntary departures is not reached.
Ford’s factory in Cologne, which stopped producing the Fiesta in 2023, currently manufactures two electric models: the Explorer EV and the Capri. However, sales of these models have not met expectations in a European market where the transition to electrification is progressing at a slower pace.
