Ford Lays Off Thousands of Workers, EV Transition Becomes Reason
- Dok: Ford
VIVA – Ford is planning to layoff more than thousands of workers at its main factory in Germany, Cologne. The head of the works council has called a meeting for all 14,000 employees of the Cologne plant, the largest Ford plant in Germany, on Monday.
Ford, which according to its website employs about 20,000 people in Germany, declined to comment on the report but said the transformation to electric vehicles requires "significant changes" in the way it produces cars.
"The transformation (to an all-electric portfolio) requires significant changes in the way we develop, build and sell Ford vehicles, and will have an impact on the organizational structure, talent, and skills we will need in the future." According to the statement.
"Further details will be shared once our plans are finalized and we have informed our employees first," the statement added.
Ford is investing about two billion dollars to expand its plant in Cologne, which produces the Ford Fiesta as well as engines, and transmissions, to produce fully electric models.
The US automaker has committed to selling exclusively electric passenger cars in Europe by 2030 and plans three new electric passenger vehicles and four new electric commercial vehicles in Europe by 2024.