Ford has verified that it will close its factory in Southampton in mid-2013. The move ends more than 100 years of vehicle production in the UK as well as will expense 500 people their jobs, plus great deals more in the associated supply chain.
Transit production will move to the Ford Otosan facility in Kocaeli, Turkey, in 2013.
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Further to this, Ford will likewise close its stamping as well as tooling operations in Dagenham – which currently employs 750 people – in addition to logistics as well as support staff, taking overall task losses to 1,400 in the UK.
Ford cites the weakness in the European market – which accounts for somewhat more than a quarter of Ford’s overall vehicle volume – as the reason for its decision to cut plants as well as its dealer’s stock of cars and trucks to record low levels.
Speaking during a media conference, Ford chairman as well as CEO Alan Mulally said: “We’re moving decisively to match production with demand… we recognise the effect our actions will have on Ford workers as well as their households as well as will work together with all stakeholders during this necessary transformation of our business…”
Ford did verify that it will invest in its Dagenham diesel engine production facility, as well as retain the present workforce of 2,000 people on the engine line. A new household of clean 2.0-litre diesel engines will be established at Ford’s Dunton R&D centre, which employs 3,500 people, as well as go into production at Dagenham in 2016.