Ford says it plans to achieve the reductions through voluntary segregation programs. (AFP photo)
Ford says about 2,300 jobs will be cut in Germany, 1,300 in the UK and 200 in the rest of Europe over the next three years
Latest layoffs: US-based automaker Ford plans to cut 3,800 product development and administration jobs in Europe over the next three years, a statement said. The company cited rising costs and the need for a leaner structure as it shifts production to electric vehicles.
Ford said about 2,300 jobs will be cut in Germany, 1,300 in the UK and 200 in the rest of Europe. It added that it plans to achieve the reductions through voluntary segregation programs.
The US-based company will retain about 3,400 engineers in the region who will build on core technology provided by their US counterparts and adapt it to European customers, said Martin Sander, head of European passenger cars (EV) and head of Ford Germany, on a press. phone call.
“There is considerably less work to be done on powertrains that come from internal combustion engines. We are moving to a world with fewer global platforms where less technical work is required. That is why we have to make the adjustments,” says Sander.
The carmaker’s electrification strategy has not changed, Sander added, with the aim of offering a fully electric fleet in Europe by 2035.
Ford will launch its first electric vehicle in Europe later this year, built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform in Cologne and is considering bringing a Ford platform to Europe, possibly to its plant in Valencia, Sander said.
“We are preparing our organization to compete and win in a region of unprecedented economic and geopolitical headwinds,” he said.
The year 2023 witnessed massive layoffs at Google, Microsoft, Salesforce and Amazon, among others. Google laid off 6 percent of its workforce or 12,000 employees, the most of any company. Microsoft let go 10,000 employees, Amazon laid off about 8,000 employees.
Aside from this, Salesforce laid off 8,000 employees, Dell laid off 6,650, IBM about 3,900, SAP nearly 3,000, Zoom about 1,300, and Coinbase about 950 employees, among others.
(With input from agencies)
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