Ford Media Center

Ford Offers Voluntary Separation Programs in Germany and UK as It Continues to Transform Its Business in Europe

As part of a comprehensive European business transformation announced in January, Ford is reorganizing its workforce in the region. The goal is to significantly decrease structural costs, reduce bureaucracy, empower leaders and managers, and eliminate less value-added work.   

As part of this process, Ford today offered voluntary separation programs for employees in Germany and the UK to help accelerate the plan and return to sustainable profitability. Through these programs and other initiatives, Ford of Germany expects to reduce its headcount in excess of 5,000 jobs, including temporary staff. The total number of positions impacted in the UK is still to be determined.

Ford of Europe is implementing a range of actions to create a sustainably profitable business in the region, including:

  • Establishing three customer-focused business groups in Europe – Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Vehicles, and Imports
  • Accelerating key fitness actions and reducing structural costs
  • Reducing the complexity of existing Ford products, optimizing the most profitable vehicle configurations and increasing volumes of profitable vehicle lines
  • Changes to Ford’s vehicle portfolio – with a more targeted vehicle line up, improving or exiting less profitable vehicle lines

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 199,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe

is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.