Ford Motor Co. announced Tuesday it will slash up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as sales of battery-powered cars in Europe fall well below industry forecasts.
The company said it would prioritize voluntary departures and buyout packages to minimize layoffs, framing the cuts as part of a larger workforce realignment. The decision follows a major restructuring plan unveiled in late 2024 that already trimmed 4,000 jobs across Europe and the UK, including 2,900 in Germany.
Starting in January, the Cologne plant — which produces the electric version of Ford’s Explorer SUV — will reduce operations to a single shift per day.
“In Europe, the demand for electric cars is significantly below industry forecasts,” Ford said in a statement, noting that it continues to adjust production volumes to reflect real-world market demand.
While electric vehicles now make up 15.6 per cent of the European market — up from 12.5 per cent a year earlier — growth has slowed considerably, partly because Germany ended its purchase subsidies for EV buyers.
Ford sold 260,000 vehicles across Europe in the first seven months of the year, a 0.7 per cent increase over 2024, keeping its market share steady at 3.3 per cent, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.