In the end it happens faster than expected. After 55 years, the last car rolls off the assembly line at Ford in Saarlouis this Friday (November 14th). “We simply finished the program earlier,” said Ford works council chairman in Saarlouis, Markus Thal, to the German Press Agency. On the last day, around 100 Focus cars were scheduled for final assembly. “And at some point the last car will be on wheels,” said Thal. The end of vehicle production is very emotionally affecting for the employees in Saarlouis. In the past few days, several employees have had tears in their eyes. The last car to roll off the assembly line will later be presented to the city of Saarlouis, said Thal. “It’s for the museum in Saarlouis.” Most recently, November 21st was planned as the last day of vehicle production. More than 15 million vehicles were manufactured. According to Thal, 2,700 people were still employed at the Saarlouis factory. The work will then continue for 1,000 employees at the factory: They will build components and spare parts for Ford in Europe. Since the US car manufacturer began production in Saarlouis in January 1970, more than 15.6 million vehicles have been built at the factory, as a Ford spokesman announced in Cologne. The most successful models that rolled off the assembly line in Saarlouis were the Ford Escort and the Ford Focus. The decision was made three years ago. More on the topic Ford management decided in June 2022 to end production of the Focus model in Saarland and to give preference to the plant in Valencia, Spain, for the construction of an electric car platform. The decision hit the 4,600 employees at the time hard. Since February 2024, a social collective agreement has been in effect for employees at the Ford plant, which, among other things, provides for the continued employment of 1,000 employees until the end of 2032. In addition, high severance payments and bonuses, the formation of a transfer company and qualification programs have been agreed.
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