The news came amid concerns in the European Union that companies may shift operations to the US due to the recently passed landmark inflationary reduction law that provides tax breaks for US-made electric cars and batteries.
A spokesman for the IG Metall union told AFP the cuts would be mainly in Cologne, where Ford has a large factory. But all sites across Germany are under threat.
“We at IG Metall are very concerned about the future of the German development divisions and, in general, about the future of the German Ford sites,” said a statement from the union after an extraordinary meeting with management.
In addition to the Cologne site, Ford has a development center in nearby Merkenich.
The automaker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
IG Metall, which represents workers in the main electrical and metallurgical sectors, said that the development center “has successfully built models for the European market, which have often brought the company global success.”
The union said German Ford workers could continue to develop successful electric models for Europe if given the chance.
IG Metall said the US company risked “taking the ax into its own future” with the planned cuts, and urged the automaker to reconsider the move.
Just last year, Ford said it would make a major investment in Germany in an effort to have all passenger cars sold in Europe electric by 2030.
© AFP
