Dec 23 (Reuters) – Car companies across Europe announce factory closures and massive job cuts as they struggle with weak demand, high costs, competition from China and a slower-than-expected transition to electric vehicles. did.
Below are the layoffs and site closures announced in recent months, starting with the most recent.
Volkswagen, Europe’s top carmaker, agreed with unions on December 20 to cut 35,000 jobs in Germany and cut factory output by almost a quarter, but has no plans for immediate plant closures or layoffs. is not scheduled.
Volkswagen announced in early December that the Audi plant in Brussels
The company closed its doors by February 28 because it could not find an alternative to closure.
Swiss auto parts supplier Feintool announced on December 3 that it will close one of its locations in Germany and lay off up to 200 people.
French auto parts supplier Valeo plans to cut about 1,000 jobs in Europe, sources told Reuters on November 27, adding that two factories in France will be closed in a restructuring drive.
On November 26, carmaker Stellantis announced plans to close its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.
The company has repeatedly halted assembly operations at its main factory in Mirafiori, Italy, due to low demand, especially for electric versions of the Fiat 500.
The company said it has no plans to close any factories in Italy.
Bosch, the world’s largest auto parts supplier, will cut 5,500 jobs by 2032 in its cross-domain computer solutions and steering division, mainly in Germany, and reduce working hours for some employees. The plan was announced on November 22nd.
US automaker Ford announced on November 20 that it will cut 4,000 jobs, or 14% of its European workforce, mainly in Germany and the UK.
French tire manufacturer Michelin announced on November 5 that it will close two sites in western France, impacting approximately 1,250 jobs.
Schaeffler, a German machinery and auto parts manufacturer, announced on November 5 that it plans to cut 4,700 jobs in Europe, mainly in Germany, after its operating profit in the third quarter was almost halved.
The restructuring efforts include the closure of production facilities in Austria and the United Kingdom.
Daimler Trucks, the world’s largest truck manufacturer, announced on August 1 that it will reduce business hours and impose a hiring freeze on employees at its German operations.
(Reporting by Reuters news agency; Editing by Andrei Szczech in Gdańsk; Editing by Jason Neely and Bernadette Baum)
