While the compact-sized Ford Focus may have always lost sales leadership to the VW Golf, it still had its golden era of popularity in Europe. That era is long gone now, with the company considering job cuts at its Saarlouis factory and lowering the production quota.
Automobilwoche quotes Markus Thal, Head of the Works Council, saying ‘the production at the plant will be considerably reduced starting from August 29.’ The decision throws the fate of the whole industrial complex into the air, but the company says a decision will be reached before the end of June on whether it should continue operation and how.
The Saarlouis complex occupies an area of 120 hectares and currently employs 6,190 workers who assemble the Ford Focus and its ST modification. The latter has recently fallen on a 12-month backorder period due to electronic part shortages and supply chain disruptions.