Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford job cuts: 1,300 to go in the UK

Ford has announced a series of job cuts across Europe with around 1,300 positions set to go in the UK.

Ford

Following its announcement confirming it will return to Formula 1 as a technical partner with Red Bull in 2026, Ford is to cut 3,800 jobs across Europe over the next three years, including 1,300 in the UK, 

The cuts are part of Ford’s restructuring process as it switches to an electric only product strategy in Europe, with 2,800 jobs going in product development. General Manager Ford Model E, Micheal Sander said of the cuts “By 2025 we plan to resize our European engineering footprint, resulting in approximately 2,800 fewer jobs

Advertisement - Article continues below

“Of the 2,800 jobs 1,700 will come from our workforce in Germany, 1,000 from the UK, and another 100 from other locations across Europe,” Sander said. A further 1,000 jobs will be cut from Ford's admin services, split across Germany, the UK and the rest of Europe.

Ford European job cuts

 

Product Development

Administrative Functions

Total

Germany

1700

600

2300

UK

1000

300

1300

Rest of Europe

100

100

200

Total

2800

1000

3800

Ford’s decision to reduce its workforce is driven by its move to fully-electric powertrains by 2035 and the need to reduce the complexity in its vehicles and operations. Ford’s collaboration with VW that sees the US firm utilise the German giant’s EV technology, including its MEB platform for passenger cars, is key to the decision. Ford's engineering operations will increasingly focus on 'top hat' bodies that will be fitted to VW underpinngs. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

3,400 engineering roles will remain within Ford of Europe, focusing on design and the development of connected services.

“We have to become more efficient with the way we're using our overall engineering capacity in Europe, which is why we have to make these adjustments” explained Sander. “We can use global platforms and share technology globally in order to improve our overall efficiency. We can build on the core technology provided by Ford in the US and modify it specifically for the European market to compete successfully.

“Nothing has changed about our strategy ... On the passenger vehicle side, we will compete with a smaller, more focused portfolio of cars clearly inspired by our American heritage and highly differentiated electric vehicles in a very competitive marketplace. We are committed to Europe, we're committed to building a thriving business for our engineers, suppliers, dealers, and most importantly our customers and our communities in which we operate around Europe.

“But we have to respond to changing market conditions, increasing material costs, energy costs, and more and more competitors entering the market, which means that we are preparing our organisation and product line-up to compete and win in a region that is facing unprecedented economic but also geo-political headwinds.

“To deliver a sustainable, profitable future for Ford Europe based on these pillars this requires growth-based action and changes in the way we develop, build and sell our vehicles, which will impact the organisational structure, talent and skills we need in the future. We need a leaner and more competitive cost structure across Europe.”

Ford’s UK technical centre in Dunton, Essex will remain focusing on both European and global product development.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Ford will fight Ferrari at Le Mans once again in 2027
Ford Le Mans 2027
News

Ford will fight Ferrari at Le Mans once again in 2027

Ford will enter an LMDh car at Le Mans in 2027 to fight Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota, Aston Martin, Genesis and many more
31 Jan 2025
Best fast Fords of all time – from the GT supercar to the Fiesta ST
Best Fast Fords header
Best cars

Best fast Fords of all time – from the GT supercar to the Fiesta ST

Ford has produced some of our favourite driving machines over its extensive history, these are the best fast Fords from the ages
16 Sep 2024
Fast Ford heaven: a tour of the ultimate Ford garage
Ford Heritage Collection tour
Features

Fast Ford heaven: a tour of the ultimate Ford garage

Who doesn’t love a fast Ford? Prepare for a nostalgia overload as we get a guided tour of Ford UK’s magnificent, newly rehomed Heritage Collection
7 Jul 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Jaguar GT seen on the road: 1000bhp production car prepares to launch Jag’s new era
Jaguar 2026 front
News

New Jaguar GT seen on the road: 1000bhp production car prepares to launch Jag’s new era

Jaguar’s new electric GT continues testing ahead its late-2025 reveal
7 Feb 2025
This is why youngsters aren't interested in cars
Lamborghini Revuelto
Opinion

This is why youngsters aren't interested in cars

Youngsters not into cars any more? The remedy’s obvious, reckons Richard Porter
7 Feb 2025
Best GT cars 2025 – the ultimate continent crossers
Best GT cars 2025
Best cars

Best GT cars 2025 – the ultimate continent crossers

The best GTs must marry the opulence, comfort, refinement and appointment of a luxury saloon, with the style, performance, engagement and sense of occ…
10 Feb 2025