Published 3/29/2013 2:46:14 PM
The American company plans to cut more than 5,000 jobs in Germany
COLOGNE (GERMANY), 29 Mar. (EUROPE PRESS) –
Ford has announced that it will stop manufacturing the C-MAX model and its Grand C-MAX variant at its plant in Saarlouis (Germany) since the end of June this year, a measure in line with the company’s objective of accelerating efficiency improvements. and reduce structural costs of its operations in Germany, as reported in a statement,
The US company informed the plant of the decision to stop producing both models in December of last year, based on a “strong” fall in demand for MPVs.
For the gradual elimination of the production of the model, the company and the workers of the Saarlouis plant have agreed to the elimination of the night shift. Ford has assured that it will continue investing in the German installation for the production of the new Focus.
5,000 JOBS LESS IN GERMANY
The oval brand employs about 24,000 people in Germany and plans to cut more than 5,000 jobs in the German country. It will also reduce its workforce in the United Kingdom and has offered its workers in both countries a voluntary redundancy plan.
The American company has also announced this week that, from the end of next June, will stop manufacturing passenger cars in Russia, which will lead to the closure of two plants of vehicles and one of engines, as part of the restructuring of your business in the country and the joint venture Ford Sollers.
Ford will also end the production of its gearbox plant in Blanquefort (France), where 850 people work, at the end of August, after rejecting an offer from the Punch Powerglide supplier to buy the factory.
The consortium already announced in January its intention to strengthen its competitive position and return to profitability in Europe through a plan of voluntary redundancies for its workers in European territory, which will affect thousands of workers and which aims to reduce costs labor
In the short term, it will accelerate the reduction of its structural costs and include changes in its product portfolio, improving or abandoning the lines of less profitable vehicles and tackling low-yield markets.
It will also carry out a parallel redesign to include a line of vehicles more focused on the customer within three business groups: commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and imports.
Ford Europa thus aims to obtain an operating margin of 6% in the long term, with returns above the cost of capital for each business group. It also intends to consolidate its headquarters in the United Kingdom and that of Ford Credit Europe at the Ford Dunton Technical Center in South East Essex (England).