Automotive News Europe — 2024-03-21
Automotive Industry
Ford will end production at the plant, which builds the Focus, in 2025.
Ford has resumed production at a German factory hit by a strike at suppliers.
The automaker was forced to halt output at its Saarlouis plant, which builds the Focus compact car, after IG Metall members went on strike.
The strike ended after workers voted in favor of accepting negotiated social collective agreements on Monday, 19 March 2024.
About 500 IG Metall members at Magna Stanztechnik, Benteler, Tenneco, Rhenus LMS and Lear took part in the industrial action.
The strike impacted deliveries of engines/transmission parts, axles, body parts, wiring systems and exhaust systems.
Ford is ending production of the Focus at the plant in 2025 with the loss of 3,500 jobs as the automaker transitions to selling only battery-electric cars in Europe.
Workers at the nearby supplier park sought for same "attractive and well-funded" severance deal that Ford's employees are getting.
IG Metall said the suppliers had offered "substantially improved" severance payments.