Ford has announced plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs at its Cologne, Germany, factory due to low demand for electric vehicles. Starting in 2026, the plant will scale back operations from two shifts to one.
The move is part of a broader cost-cutting strategy launched a year ago, which has already led to protests and the first strike in the factory’s history. While employees reluctantly accepted the initial measures, this new phase adds to the 2,900 job cuts already planned by the end of 2027. Most of the reductions will affect administrative and development roles.
The job cuts will be voluntary, with options for severance or partial retirement, and the final number will depend on negotiations with employee representatives. The first layoffs could begin as early as January, bringing the workforce down to about 7,600. For comparison, the plant employed nearly 20,000 people in the late 2010s.
The news comes just a month after Ford marked its 100th anniversary in Germany.
Employees were informed of the job cuts on Tuesday morning. "We are aware of the impact on our employees and will do everything possible to support them," a Ford spokesperson told our colleagues at Motor1 Germany.
The company's shift to electric SUVs—replacing popular models like the Fiesta and Focus with the Explorer and Capri—has underperformed in Europe. In Germany, new vehicle registrations dropped by 14.3 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Over the past decade, Ford’s market share fell from nearly 7 percent to under 3 percent, with a modest rebound to 4.5 percent.
Meanwhile, Ford's US strategy remains strong. The company sold 2.08 million vehicles in 2024—a 4.2 percent increase and its best performance since 2019. Electric and hybrid models have gained some traction in the US, while the F-150 pickup continues to dominate as a long-standing best seller.
