What does the future hold for their careers? Ford workers at two plants in western Germany are poised to embark on a strike on Wednesday, according to the works council chief’s announcement on Monday.
Ford’s German operations are experiencing an employee strike.
Ford plans to cut approximately 4,000 jobs in Europe by 2027, with the majority located in Germany and the UK, as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts, which were announced in November. Despite this, that’s still approximately 14% of its European workforce.
The struggling American automotive giant cited the transfer as a strategic move following significant financial setbacks and an increasingly turbulent industry marked by the rapid rise of electric vehicles to capture a shrinking market share?
Ford attributed sluggish sales to the slow adoption rate of electric vehicles and its own financial struggles. The company also intends to slow down production at its Cologne EV factory, where electric Explorers and Capris are manufactured.
Last week, IG Metall union members decisively backed the “industrial action” motion, with an overwhelming 93.5% voting in support of a potential strike. “Ford must take immediate action,” stated Kerstin D., “or else we will proceed as planned.” Rolf Klein, Chief Consultant of IG Metall Cologne-Leverkusen.
Ford faces a surge in competition from recent entrants, including Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers such as BYD. Byd’s international revenue surged for the fifth consecutive month in April, marking a significant upswing in its global growth momentum.
According to recent data, BYD outpaced Tesla in German auto registrations for the final month of the year, with a total of 1,566 vehicles registered. Compared to Tesla’s meager 855, Ford recorded a significant 9,534.
As President Trump’s auto tariffs loom on the horizon, Ford, alongside numerous other industry players, is proactively preparing to mitigate potential disruptions. Following the release of its Q1 earnings last week, Ford cautioned that tariffs may impose a significant cost on the company, potentially reaching up to $2.5 billion for the year.
During Ford’s recent earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Sherry Hands emphasized that the company’s current electric vehicle (EV) launches in Europe, including the Explorer, Capri, and Puma Gen-E models, contributed to more than doubling the wholesale volume of its Model e in Q1.
Ford expanded on its initial US success by introducing its “Energy Promise” campaign in Europe, offering EV buyers a complimentary home charging station and a range of additional benefits.
