Ford is cutting another 4,000 jobs in Europe as it loses ground in the global EV race
Ford is slashing another 4,000 jobs in Europe as it struggles to keep pace with the market’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs). The American automaker said a “highly disruptive” EV market and new competition are causing significant losses in the region. Ford’s announcement comes as China’s leading EV maker, BYD, is quickly catching up in global deliveries.
Ford is cutting more jobs in Europe amid EV struggles
“Ford has been in Europe for more than 100 years,” the company’s European vice president for Transportation and Partnerships, Dave Johnston, said on Wednesday.
As the market shifts to EVs and new competition arises, Ford is fighting for its share. The company has incurred “significant losses” in recent years amid a “highly disruptive” influx of new EV challengers.
Ford plans to cut another 4,000 jobs in Europe by the end of 2027 as part of its restructuring. The company blamed the “weak economic situation” and “lower-than-expected” demand for electric cars.
The planned cuts will primarily affect Germany, but some will also affect the UK. Ford said in a press release that other European markets will see “minimal reductions. “
Ford is also slowing the output of its new electric Explorer and Capri, both of which were built at its revamped Cologne EV plant in Germany.
Last week, German newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (via Automobilwoche) reported that the plant’s employees would be put on short-term work hours. A Ford spokesperson confirmed the move, citing a “rapidly deteriorating” EV market.
Ford confirmed the plans on Wednesday, saying it will result in short-term working days at the Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
An urgent call to action
In a letter to the German government, Ford’s CFO, John Lawler, reiterated the company’s commitment to Europe and the 2035 emissions target. However, he also issued an urgent call to action for all stakeholders to work together to advance the transition. Lawler added:
What we lack in Europe and Germany is an unmistakable, clear policy agenda to advance e-mobility, such as public investments in charging infrastructure, meaningful incentives to help consumers make the shift to electrified vehicles, improving cost competitiveness for manufacturers, and greater flexibility in meeting CO2 compliance targets.
Despite the restructuring, Ford still wants to be a player in Europe. The next generation of Ford vehicles in Europe will be “software-defined” with a “differentiated” design.
The company will focus on its commercial Ford Pro business while competing in select passenger vehicle segments to drive profit growth.
Ford invested $2 billion into its Cologne plant to prepare it for EV production. After the first electric Explorer rolled off the assembly line in June, Ford added its second EV, the new Capri, just last month.
The American automaker has drastically downsized leadership in Germany this year. Earlier this month, Ford lost two of its most experienced leadership team members. It’s now down to two directors from nine earlier this year.
Electrek’s Take
Ford’s restructuring in Europe comes as EV leaders, like China’s BYD, continue gaining ground in the global auto market.
After dominating its home market, BYD and other Chinese EV makers are looking overseas to drive growth.
BYD is already a leading EV brand in key regions like Southeast Asia and Central and South America, but it expects sales to accelerate in the next few months. The EV giant opened its first manufacturing plant in Thailand earlier this year, and more are planned for Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, and Turkey.
According to Bloomberg, BYD is rapidly approaching Ford in global deliveries. Although BYD is best known for its low-cost EVs, like the Seagull, which starts at under $10,000 (69,800 yuan) in China, it’s quickly expanding into new segments like pickup trucks, mid-size SUVs, and luxury models.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley warned rivals earlier this year that if they fail to keep up with the Chinese, “20% to 30% of your revenue is at risk.”
“As the CEO of a company that had trouble competing with the Japanese and the South Koreans, we have to fix this problem,” Farley said.
While Ford’s Model e EV unit is on track to lose between $5 billion and $5.5 billion this year, BYD just reported a record $1.6 billion (RMB 11.6 billion) in Q3 net income amid surging EV sales. October was BYD’s eighth straight record sales month, with over 500,000 passenger vehicles sold for the first time.
Ford is betting on smaller, more affordable EVs to turn things around with its new low-cost platform. The first EV model powered by the platform, a new electric truck, is due out in 2027.
Can Ford turn things around? Or will it be too little too late? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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T1 Energy (NYSE: TE), formerly FREYR Battery, kicks off preparations for its new solar cell factory, set to be one of the largest in the US.
T1 Energy has chosen Yates Construction as the contractor for preconstruction services and site preparations for its planned $850 million, G2_Austin 5 GW Solar Cell Facility.
The G2_Austin site is in Milam County, Texas, in the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus at Sandow Lakes.
It’s expected to create up to 1,800 new direct US advanced manufacturing jobs. Construction is on track to kick off in mid-2025, and the facility is expected to begin producing cells by the end of 2026. There are currently far fewer solar cell manufacturing sites in the US than solar module factories, according to the SEIA.
On December 24, FREYR announced that it had closed its acquisition of China-headquartered Trina Solar’s 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. The company renamed the factory G1_Dallas, which employs more than 1,000 people and is now fully online.
Daniel Barcelo, T1’s chairman of the board and CEO, said, “Our facilities will manufacture solar cells and modules to invigorate our economy with abundant energy. We’re excited to work with Yates and Milam County to bring American advanced manufacturing to the heart of Texas and to unlock our most scalable energy resources.”
T1 Energy says it anticipates finalizing commercial terms with Yates Construction as General Contractor.
Read more: FREYR rebrands after killing its $2.6B Georgia battery factory plans
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![Kia's affordable EV2 may be small, but it looks bigger in person [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Kia-EV2-closer-look.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The EV2 is set to arrive as Kia’s smallest and most affordable electric vehicle next year. With its official debut coming up, the electric SUV was spotted driving on public roads. The electric SUV may be small, but it looks bigger in person.
Kia’s new EV2 is an affordable, small electric SUV
Kia has yet to say precisely how big the EV2 will be, but it’s expected to be around 4,000 mm (157″), or slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″). That’s even more compact than the outgoing Chevy Bolt EV (163.2″).
During its EV Day event in April, Kia unveiled the Concept EV2, a preview of the entry-level EV that will sit below the EV3.
Although it’s the brand’s smallest EV, Kia promises that it will feel larger when you’re inside. The EV2 sits higher than you’d expect with a wide front end, giving it a bigger presence on the road, similar to the three-row EV9.
We got a sneak peek at Kia’s affordable EV last month after it was spotted testing on public roads in Korea, but the latest sighting gives us a closer look at the EV2 in its production form. The new video from HealerTV reveals a few details that could look a little different from the concept.
The footage shows what appears to be different daytime running lights (DRLs). When Kia unveiled the Concept EV2 in April, it featured a unique split vertical headlight design.
The EV2 spotted driving still has the split design, but both the inner and outer lights appear to be angled more inwards. It’s not a huge difference, but given most of Kia’s new EVs look almost identical to the concepts, this could be something to keep an eye on.
Prices, specs, and more
Despite being an entry-level model, the EV2 is still equipped with advanced technology and features, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which allows it to power a campsite, home appliances, and other electronics. With OTA updates, it will only get smarter and more advanced over time.
The interior will feature Kia’s new ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit), which features dual 12.3″ driver cluster and touchscreen navigation screens in a panoramic display.
Like its other new EV models, it’s also expected to include a 5″ climate control display for nearly 30″ of screen space.
Kia plans to launch the EV2 next year in Europe and “other global regions.” For those in the US, sorry to disappoint, but it’s not expected to make the trip overseas. We do have the EV4, Kia’s first electric sedan, to look forward to.
We will learn prices and final specs closer to launch, but given it will sit below the EV3, it will likely be cheaper than that.
The EV3 starts at £32,995 ($44,800) in the UK and €35,990 ($41,600) in Europe. Kia’s CEO, Ho-Sung Song, told Autocar in 2023 that the company aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. With new battery technology and other advancements, it could be even more affordable when it arrives next year.
Kia isn’t the only automaker gearing up to launch a new entry-level EV. Last week, we got a glimpse of the upcoming Volkswagen ID.2 after it was spotted in public testing.
Should Kia bring the EV2 to the US? Would you buy one for around $30,000 or even slightly less? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
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