Fordβs VW-Based EVs Bomb In Europe, Triggering Job Cuts

- Capri and Explorer EVs are failing to meet Fordβs expectations in Europe.
- The company is now eliminating a shift and cutting up to 1,000 jobs.
- Ford blamed everything from charging infrastructure to reduced incentives.
Fordβs fiasco in Europe continues to get worse and this time it could cost 1,000 employees their jobs. he workers are based at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, where the Capri and Explorer EVs are assembled. Both models have been struggling to gain traction in the market.
Those two models are essentially reworked versions of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5. The latter was already a niche product and having a Ford version, in the form of the Capri, was a pretty obvious misstep.
Jobs On The Line
Of course, corporate heads rarely roll over these mistakes so workers end up paying the price. In this case, the Associated Press says up to a thousand people could be out of a job. Thatβs a significant amount as Ford says there are 4,090 employees at the Cologne plant.
More: Ford Walks Back All-EV Promise For Europe By 2030 Due To Wavering Demand
This equates to a roughly 25% cut and the company will thin the herd with a combination of buyouts and voluntary departures. However, thereβs little doubt that some people will lose the job theyβve been counting on.











Market Realities
In a statement, the automaker blamed the move on electric vehicle demand that was βsignificantly below industry forecasts.β The Wall Street Journal also reported the company cited evolving regulations as well as a lack of charging infrastructure investment. Some countries have also reduced or eliminated subsidies, making electric vehicles less appealing.
Thanks to this combination of factors, the Cologne plant is reportedly dropping down to one shift beginning in January. Itβs the latest setback for workers as Ford announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe last November.










