Ford announced: ‘We are laying off 4 thousand workers in Europe’

“Negotiations with the unions on dismissal modalities should begin more on Thursday”, announced the concern based in Cologne. Ford cited reduced interest in electric cars as well as high costs associated with switching production from internal combustion engines to electric ones as causes for business problems.

The management of Ford in Germany once again appealed to politics, but also to the unions to support the transformation in the automotive industry, which, as stated, is faced with numerous difficulties and exposed to strong competition, especially from China.

Ford Finance Director John Lawrel recently appealed to the German government to reintroduce premiums for the purchase of electric cars.

Ford in Germany employs about 16,500 employees in its plants in Cologne, Saalouis and Aachen. The biggest plant in Cologne, where the Capri and Explorer electric models are produced, was hit the hardest by the wave of layoffs.

Ford Werke has been present in Germany since 1925 and belongs to the parent concern Ford Motor Company.

Other German car concerns such as Volkswagen are also affected by weak sales of electric cars.