Ford has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs across Europe – including 800 in the UK – as the car industry frets over weak electric vehicle (EV) sales that could see firms fined more missing government targets.
Nissan warned that the so-called mandates covering the sale of non-zero-emission cars risked “undermining the business case for manufacturing cars in the UK and the viability of thousands of jobs”.
It spoke up hours after Ford revealed cuts as part of plans to bolster its competitiveness in Europe amid the stuttering drive to the EV future.
The job losses would take place over the next three years, it said, with the bulk of them seen in Germany, where 2,900 roles were under threat.
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Most of those affected across Europe would be in 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 face strong competition from China, a 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.
Ford said it was seeking a greater partnership with governments and others over the difficulties being encountered in the transformation.
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