Madrid, Spain.- The US vehicle manufacturer Ford announces this Friday that it has cut some 1,100 jobs at its factory in Valencia, Spain, with part of a reorganization in Europe that has generated “concern” in the government of the left.
“Approximately 1,100 jobs are affected” by the decision, due to the cessation of production of the S-Max and Galaxy models starting in April, a company spokesman said in a message sent to AFP.
“Ford will work constructively with the unions to reduce the impact of this situation on employees, families and the local community,” he said.
“The greatest concern” the Minister of Industry, Reyes Maroto, reported on Cadena ser radio.
Maroto mentioned that “the public aid that the government is giving” in Europe’s economic recovery plan “to make any change to electric mobility, is a condition in maintaining use” by companies.
The American company had an interest in the said funds.
Ford, which had announced voluntary unions on Friday, has previously announced the removal of 3,800 jobs in other European countries, mainly in Germany (2,300) and Britain (1,300).
These sections, which represent 10% of all European employees of the company, will be in areas such as product development and management.
The company stated that its plan was to renew its business in Europe and achieve greater profitability.
As part of its plan, Ford will reduce the number of models destined for Europe, focusing on the future of its electric models and sales of highly profitable vans.
The manufacturer, which was once a pillar of the European automotive industry, has seen its European market share fall over the past two decades, to represent 4.6% of new car sales in 2022, with 516,614 units.
Like the entire automotive industry, Ford is in the middle stage towards electric vehicles, a technology that requires the full modernization of existing factories and in which it intends to invest 50 billion dollars from 2026.
