Ford confirms 12,000 jobs losses in Europe

All up, the company says it will let go of around 12,000 employees across Europe at both wholly owned and operated, and joint venture locations.

A majority of the layoffs will be for blue collar staff, but Ford will also shed 2000 people from its salaried workforce.

Ford of Europe has 51,000 direct employees, or 65,000 if joint venture staff are factored in.

To make this happen, the company has already announced it will be closing five factories: the Bridgend Engine Plant in Wales, a transmission facility in France, and two car factories and an engine plant in Russia. A transmission plant in Slovakia will be sold to Magna.

It will also consolidate the Ford of Britain and Ford Credit offices, cut the layers of management, and reduce shifts at the Saarlouis, Germany, and Valencia, Spain plants.

People movers, such as the C-Max and Grand C-Max, and slow selling models, like the Ka+, have been axed from its European range.

“Separating employees and closing plants are the hardest decisions we make, and in recognition of the effect on families and communities, we are providing support to ease the impact,” Stuart Rowley, president of Ford of Europe, said in a prepared statement.

With these cuts, Ford of Europe has set itself a long-term profit margin of six per cent, down from its earlier eight per cent target.

Globally, Ford and Volkswagen plan to co-develop the next-generation of Ranger and Amarok utes, and commercial vans. They are also investigating cooperating on autonomous vehicle development, and sharing the Volkswagen MEB electric car platform.