Ford has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs across Europe – including 800 in the UK.
The car manufacturer said the cuts are needed as part of plans to bolster its competitiveness amid the stuttering drive to an all-electric vehicle (EV) future that has hit sales.
Ford said the cuts would take place over the next three years.
The bulk of the job losses would be in Germany, the company said, with 2,900 roles under threat.
Most of those affected across Europe would be across administrative and support functions and product development, it added, with some manufacturing jobs hit too.
Ford was clear that its UK power unit plants at Dagenham and Halewood would not be affected.
It was aiming to achieve all the job losses through voluntary means by the end of 2027.
The announcement was made as EV sales across Europe are hit by strong competition from China, the continued squeeze on household incomes and concerns among buyers around electric car ownership.
Ford said the restructuring aimed to create a “more cost-competitive structure and ensure the long-term sustainability” of the business amid “lower-than-expected demand” for its electric products.
Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice president for transformation and partnerships, said: “We are proud of our new product portfolio for Europe and committed to building a thriving business in Europe for generations to come.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” he said.
Ford said it was seeking a greater partnership with governments and others over the difficulties being encountered in the transformation.
Manufacturers face stiff targets to halt sales of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles under efforts to combat climate change.
Manufacturers were meeting the Transport Secretary Louise Haigh on Wednesday to discuss the gradual toughening of rules for EV sales in the UK.
Firms face fines if electric cars fail to make up a percentage of their overall sales – a figure that stands at 22% for 2024.
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