Monday, February 9, 2009

Ford Europe Expected to Cut 850 U.K. Jobs, Transit Van Debut Delayed

Posted February 5 2009 03:26 PM by Nate Martinez
Category: Auto News, Europe, Ford, Ford , Minivans/Vans, Minivan/Van



Even despite its usual sales success, Ford Europe has revealed its plan to lay off 850 workers in the U.K. A delayed introduction of the new Transit commercial van also was announced today. According to Automotive News, 500 workers will be axed from the automaker's location in Southampton, while the remaining will come from other sites across the country.

An additional 350 jobs will be trimmed at the Denton Technical Center in Essex. Ford's Transit van was due out in two years, but as times would have, has been postponed indefinitely. Last year, Ford sold 173,100 Transits in 19 of its main European markets, some 8,800 less than the year prior.

"As demand across the industry continues to fall, we are facing some immediate and major challenges which require us to take decisive action to reduce all our costs," stated Ford of Europe chairman John Fleming.

Officials also are considering the renegotiation of workers' wages that were just recently established. Resultingly, workers have threatened to strike just as some of Fiat's employees have.

Ford's other European divisions are also expected to make further job and production cuts.

Source: Automotive News

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