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New details of Ford Motor Company planning thousands of job cuts in Europe continue to emerge following a report from media last week. The layoffs will mostly affect those Ford employees working in vehicle development, especially in Germany and the UK, although job cuts to other Ford facilities are apparently in the works as well. The layoffs come as Ford looks to shift its production strategy to larger vehicles and EVs, but news of the cuts is already triggering unions in Europe to threaten to step in.

Ford of Europe is the subsidiary of the American automaker that develops and manufactures vehicles for markets overseas. With over fifty years of operations, Ford’s Cologne, Germany HQ oversees ten different manufacturing facilities across seven countries in Europe, including a new solar power plant at its Spain location.

In recent years, Ford has remained quite open about its plans for the future, which include a full embrace of electrification, no matter the short term costs. While such a quest is admirable, it is not without its fair share of collateral damage as the legacy automaker phases out ICE vehicle production jobs in favor of electric vehicle assembly processes.

Last summer, we reported that Ford was laying off 8,000 US employees, mostly those assembling gas vehicles. At the same time, Ford was seemingly gearing up for second reckoning in Europe, adapting a similar focus on electrification in a market that looks to completely ban all combustion sales by 2035.

In December of 2022, we were reporting that Ford was strategizing to sell “American heritage” to customers in Europe, abandoning smaller ICE sedans for larger SUVs, crossovers, and electric vehicles – again similar to its approach in the states.

Like the US last summer, Ford employees in Europe may soon feel the wrath of a green wave as the automaker plans to lay off thousands in a massive restructuring; so much so that worker’s unions are on the cusp of stepping in.

Ford Europe
Expansion plans for Ev development at Ford’s factory in Cologne, Germany / Source: Ford Motor Company

Ford to fire thousands in Europe to refocus on SUVs and EVs

During a meeting at Ford of Europe’s headquarters in Cologne today, employees were told that a majority of the job losses would come in product development as the automaker shifts away from smaller combustion models like the Fiesta and Focus, in favor of EVs like the Mustang Mach-E.

According to local press reports in Europe, 2,500 to 4,000 product development jobs of the 6,250 currently employed by Ford could get axed.

German union IG Metall stated that a majority of the layoffs will hit Germany and will include a reduction of administrative roles at HQ, including up to 1,900 layoffs in Cologne alone. That said, other Ford facilities in Europe will reportedly also see major job reductions.

Ford’s Merkenich facility where it currently develops the compact sedans mentioned above, may see as many as 3,800 jobs go as those ICE models are phased out. Reports say Ford’s research center in Aachen, Germany, and technical center in the UK will also face some job cuts.

Ford Europe employees were told that total job loss numbers will not be finalized until February, but unions supporting those employees are already standing by to step in if need be. Per IG Metall:

If negotiations between the works council and management in coming weeks do not ensure the future of workers, we will join the process. We will not hold back from measures that could seriously impact the company not just in Germany but Europe-wide.

Having unions in Europe involved could certainly affect Ford’s production output overseas, should the employees band together and potentially strike in support of their fired colleagues. This will be an ongoing saga to watch and Ford finalizes its layoffs and shifts its development again toward an all-electric future.

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A wind farm in Texas will help power Rivian’s Adventure Network

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A wind farm in Texas will help power Rivian's Adventure Network

Rivian will power its DC fast-charging network with renewable energy company RWE’s Champion Wind farm in Texas.

The two companies just signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for electricity from RWE’s repowered Champion Wind in Nolan and Mitchell counties, west of Abilene.

The 127-megawatt (MW) Champion Wind is getting new turbine nacelles and blades, which will extend the wind farm’s lifespan. Originally commissioned in 2008, the wind farm is expected to be fully upgraded by mid-2025. When the wind farm is back online, it’ll be capable of generating enough electricity to power nearly 1 billion miles of renewable driving every year for Rivian, or the equivalent of powering 36,000 homes annually in Texas.

This wind power is set to support Rivian’s DC fast-charging Adventure Network with renewable energy. Rivian has set a specific goal to enable 7 billion miles of renewable driving.

Paul Frey, Rivian’s VP of propulsion, charging & adventure products, said, “Champion Wind is a powerful enabler for Rivian drivers to become active participants in building a cleaner grid every time they charge their vehicle. This project shows the potential to meaningfully decarbonize the grid and support a more circular economy through reuse and recovery of existing infrastructure, all while maintaining highly competitive economics.”

Siemens Gamesa is supplying 41 turbines with new nacelles and blades on existing towers. The nacelles and blades are being manufactured in the US. In addition, as part of the repowering project, six new Siemens Gamesa turbines rated at 3.1 MW each will also be added to the wind farm.

The decommissioned wind turbine blades from Champion will be repurposed. RWE is working with REGEN Fiber, an Iowa-based company that recycles wind turbine blades to make reinforcement fibers for the construction industry. Those fibers are then used in concrete to add strength and durability, extending the lifespan of infrastructure.

RWE is the third-largest renewable energy company in the US.

Read more: This renewables giant is going to use wooden wind turbine towers


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Rivian offers $3k discount to buyers switching from a gas car, with a catch

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Rivian offers k discount to buyers switching from a gas car, with a catch

Rivian is bringing back its “All-Electric upgrade offer” from now until November 30th, but with some changes to the program.

Earlier this year, Rivian offered $1k-$5k off a new Rivian if you trade in an old gas car, from April to June. The offer was available for specific vehicles, and with a sliding discount scale based on which Rivian vehicle you order.

Now the program has come back, but with quite a few changes from the previous version.

As of today, October 31, if you buy a new Rivian R1T or R1S new inventory vehicle from the R1 Shop, you can get a $3,000 discount if you also prove that you own or lease a qualifying gas-powered vehicle.

This is simultaneously simpler, more lenient, and more restrictive than the previous offer, in various ways.

First, the discount is a flat $3k (or $4,100 CAD), rather than having a scale based on what model you order, which is more streamlined.

Second, the discount applies to every gas or hybrid vehicle owner – you don’t have to trade in your vehicle, and you’re not limited to a specific list of vehicles. Just prove that you own or lease a gas car (copy of registration, proof of insurance, etc), and you get the discount.

However, third, it’s more restrictive as to what vehicles you can purchase. The current offer applies only to Rivian new inventory vehicles in the R1 Shop, and excludes demo vehicles, pre-owned vehicles, or custom build vehicles. It also does not apply to Rivian’s base Dual Standard models, but everything else is fair game.

In order to qualify, you need to place your order between today and November 30, and you must take delivery of the vehicle before December 31. Check out all the specifics of the offer on Rivian’s site here.

Electrek’s Take

Rivian is clearly trying to round out its yearly numbers with this offer, as the market for pricy cars is somewhat soft with increased interest rates. It just slightly lowered its annual delivery guidance, now planning to see roughly similar deliveries this year than last.

But its R1 vehicles just got a huge refresh to help the company with costs and to offer new features. The R1S is still one of the most popular high-priced vehicles in the US, and the company’s products earn universal acclaim from owners.

The interesting thing is that Rivian had a similar offer earlier this year, before the refresh, to help clear out inventory of older vehicles. It didn’t see it fit to offer the discount last quarter, perhaps buoyed by the updated model, but after a rough Q3 of deliveries it now brought the offer back.

Rivian is still guiding to reach a slight gross profit in Q4, though we’re sure we’ll hear more about that in its upcoming quarterly earnings next week.

If our coverage of Rivian has helped inform you about the brand, feel free to use our Rivian referral code to get 6 months of free charging or 750 Rivian Rewards points with your purchase.


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Hyundai Casper EV Cross spotted for the first time with new design upgrades [Video]

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Hyundai Casper EV Cross spotted for the first time with new design upgrades [Video]

Hyundai’s new low-cost EV is getting a bold design upgrade. The Hyundai Casper EV Cross was spotted for the first time in public, revealing new design elements.

Although we knew a rugged “Cross” variant was headed to Europe, this was the first time the domestic model was spotted with an upgraded design.

Hyundai unveiled the Inster EV Cross earlier this month, giving the electric city car an off-road new look.

The Inster EV is Hyundai’s overseas version of its domestic Casper Electric model. In Korea, Hyundai’s Casper EV starts at around $20,000 (27.4 million won). Hyundai said its new EV can be bought for under $8,000 (10 million won) with subsidies.

In Europe, it starts at under $27,000 (25,000 euros). The Cross variant is built for “those looking for an EV with a more adventurous look,” Hyundai said.

Although it offers the same versatility as the standard model, the Inster EV Cross gains rugged design elements, including new front and rear bumpers, black claddings, skid plates, a roof rack, and more.

Hyundai-Casper-EV-Cross
Hyundai Inster EV Cross (Source: Hyundai)

Here’s our first look at the Hyundai Casper EV Cross

After a rugged new variant with the Casper EV logo was spotted in Korea for the first time, a Cross model is expected to debut shortly.

The new video from HealerTV reveals added design elements, including the roof rack and more aggressive black trim.

Hyundai Casper EV Cross spotted for the first time (Source: HealerTV)

The reporter notes that the Hyundai Casper EV Cross has a “much more mechanical and futuristic feel than the existing model.”

It almost appears “robot-like” with an added off-road feel. The Inster EV Cross gets up to 223 mi (360 km) WLTP driving range. In Korea, the Casper Electric is rated with up to 195 miles (315 km) driving range.

Hyundai-Casper-Electric
Hyundai Casper Electric (Source: Hyundai)

Although Hyundai Casper (Inster) EV is not expected to launch in the US, the low-cost model was spotted driving in California for the first time this month.

In the meantime, off-road fans can get in line for Hyundai’s upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5, which will be available with a rugged XRT trim. The 2025 IONIQ 5 XRT model was also recently caught testing ahead of deliveries.

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