Automotive News Europe — 2025-09-16
Automotive Industry
Ford Motor Co. said it will cut up to 1,000 jobs in electric car production at its factory in Cologne, Germany, due to weak demand.
“In Europe, demand for electric cars remains well below industry forecasts,” Ford said in a statement. “Ford will therefore switch production at the Cologne plant to single-shift operation from January 2026,” resulting in the job losses, the company said Sept. 16.
Ford said it would offer voluntary lay-off packages to those affected at its Cologne electric vehicle center.
The automaker builds the Explorer electric SUV and Capri electric crossover at the Cologne plant. Both are based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform that is also used by the VW ID4 and ID5.
Ford invested $2 billion to build electric cars in Cologne after ending production of the Fiesta small hatchback at the plant.
Ford has been undergoing a painful restructuring in Germany impacting thousands of jobs, including at its Cologne site as well as a plant in Saarlouis that is set to close.