Ford plans to cut 3,200 jobs across Europe, according to Germany’s largest union, as the carmaker looks to slash costs and shift focus towards electric vehicles.

Most of the 2,500 jobs in product development and up to 700 in administrative roles the automaker is hoping to cut are located in Germany, said IG Metall.

The union, which represents 2.2 million members in the metal, electrical, iron, steel and automotive industries, said other cuts could fall at sites in Belgium and the UK, the Financial Times reported.

The workers at the Cologne site, which employs about 14,000 people, were informed of the plans on Monday.

“If negotiations between the works council and management in coming weeks do not ensure the future of workers, we will join the process,” IG Metall said.

“We will not hold back from measures that could seriously impact the company, not just in Germany but Europe-wide.”

The US carmaker has been cutting jobs in Europe for years as it aims to shift its focus to electrified vehicles.

The company’s chief executive, Jim Farley, warned in November last year it takes “40% less labour to make an electric car” than a traditional petrol model.

Ford employs about 7,000 people in the UK, with employees located at its plant in Dagenham, east London, which builds diesel engines and at a gearbox plant in Halewood, Merseyside.

The company’s engine plant in Bridgend, Wales, was closed in September 2020 with the loss of 1,700 jobs.

A statement from Ford said: “We have no comment on the current speculation about a possible restructuring at Ford in Europe.