Ford Will Cut 12,000 Jobs in Europe by 2020

Ford Motor Co. says it will reduce its European workforce by 20%, eliminating 12,000 jobs in the region by the end of next year.

Most of the cuts will occur in Germany (5,000 positions), U.K. (3,000 jobs) and Russia (2,000). About 2,000 of the positions to be eliminated are salaried. Ford aims to accomplish most of the reductions through voluntary buyouts.

The process will shrink Ford’s production operations in Europe to 18 locations from 24. The company already has ended output at an engine plant and two vehicle assembly facilities in Russia.

The company also will shut down its Bridgend engine plant in South Wales and Aquitaine Industries transmission plant in France. Ford has arranged to sell its Kechnec transmission plant in Slovakia to Magna international Inc.

Ford further plans to narrow assembly operations through shift reductions in Saarlouis, Germany, and Valencia, Spain. In England, the company will consolidate Ford of Britain and Ford Credit Europe operations, shutting down their current offices in Warley and moving them to Dunton.

Ford says it will conduct future operations in Europe through three new business groups, effective July 1:

• Commercial Vehicles, headquartered in Dunton and led by Hans Schep
• Passenger Vehicles, based in Cologne, Germany, and headed by Roelant de Waard
• Imports, whose office location and leadership will be announced later

The company’s long-term goal, which has no publicly revealed deadline, is to achieve a 6% pretax margin in Europe.