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DETROIT, Michigan – Ford will close two plants in the UK this month (July 2013) as part of the automaker’s plan to restructure its European operations.
The company will cut about 20% of its vehicle capacity, according to a report in the Detroit News.
SHUT DOWN
On July 26 the Southampton plant will stop commercial-vehicle production and stamping and tooling work will halt at the Dagenham engine plant. The proposed closure of the two was announced in 2012 along with a shutdown of a major assembly plant in Belgium.
Restructuring comes as car sales reached a 20-year low in Europe even though Ford has experienced a slight increase in car sales in the past few months. The Belgium plant is scheduled to close by the end of 2014.
Good news for employees though: Ford said it had reached agreements with all 531 employees in Southampton and 750 in Dagenham to move to other Ford manufacturing locations. Others have accepted retirement or a separation package.
The company will cut about 20% of its vehicle capacity, according to a report in the Detroit News.
SHUT DOWN
On July 26 the Southampton plant will stop commercial-vehicle production and stamping and tooling work will halt at the Dagenham engine plant. The proposed closure of the two was announced in 2012 along with a shutdown of a major assembly plant in Belgium.
Restructuring comes as car sales reached a 20-year low in Europe even though Ford has experienced a slight increase in car sales in the past few months. The Belgium plant is scheduled to close by the end of 2014.
Good news for employees though: Ford said it had reached agreements with all 531 employees in Southampton and 750 in Dagenham to move to other Ford manufacturing locations. Others have accepted retirement or a separation package.