Ford has announced its intention to reduce 2,900 jobs in Germany by the end of 2027, according to a report by FAZ on Wednesday.
As part of a global restructuring program, the automotive giant plans to reduce its European workforce by 4,000 employees out of 28,000. The most significant cuts are expected to affect the plant in Cologne.
Markus Vassenberg, the managing director of Ford in Europe, explained that the company’s European business continues to suffer losses and cannot rely on financial support from its parent company.
Vassenberg also noted that the sales forecasts for electric vehicles were more optimistic than the actual results. He added that this problem is not limited to Ford alone. Additionally, the company’s European operations are being affected by strict EU environmental regulations, including plans to ban the registration of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035.
In addition, Daniela Cavallo, head of the production council at Volkswagen in Germany, recently announced that the German carmaker plans to close at least three factories in Germany, leading to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. Volkswagen employs around 120,000 people at its ten plants in the country. The company is also considering layoffs and plant closures as part of its cost-cutting strategy. Reductions are expected to start as early as July 1, 2025, with supporters of strict austerity measures within the company suggesting that up to 30,000 jobs could be cut.
