From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
By Paul Homewood
Ford won’t be the last.
Ford has announced it will cut 800 jobs in the UK over the next three years.
The move is part of a major restructuring programme, which will see 4,000 posts closed across Europe as a whole.
The company said it had to act because of difficult trading conditions, including intense competition and weak demand for electric vehicles.
However, the cuts will not affect its manufacturing sites in Dagenham and Halewood, or its logistics base in Southampton. Ford said it hoped to make the majority of job cuts through voluntary redundancy.
“Making this announcement isn’t something that anybody wants to do, and I appreciate it will have a very significant impact on our employees,” said Lisa Brankin, managing director of Ford of Britain and Ireland.
“It’s not the news anyone wants to hear at any time. So our aim is to try to deliver this through voluntary redundancy.”
Ford has 5,300 employees in the UK.
The restructuring plan will remove 15% of its workforce. The majority of them are expected to be administrative or product development roles.
This is the second round of cuts to hit Ford’s operations in Britain in less than two years. In March 2023 it said 1,300 jobs were to go, a fifth of its workforce, most of them at the Dunton site.
The latest announcement comes at a time when car manufacturers across Europe are struggling.
Among the issues they face are high energy costs, weaker than expected demand for electric cars and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.
Many of the continent’s biggest names, including Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and BMW have seen their profits tumble this year.
Volkswagen is even contemplating the closure of factories in Germany, a step that would be unprecedented.
“The automotive industry is going through a period of massive disruption at the moment,” explained Ms Brankin.
“We’ve got unprecedented competition, regulation and lots of economic headwinds”
Those pressures are hitting Ford at a difficult time. The carmaker is attempting to move away from its past as a mass-manufacturer of cheap “runabouts”, and position itself as more upmarket brand, focused on electric cars. Last year, it stopped making the Fiesta after nearly five decades.
In addition to the cuts in the UK, Ford will be shedding 2,900 jobs in Germany and another 300 in the rest of Europe.
Meanwhile in Britain, the government is coming under intense pressure from the car industry over rules designed to force them to build more electric vehicles. The issue is due to be discussed at a meeting between industry and ministers on Wednesday afternoon.
Under the so-called Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which came into force this year, at least 22% of cars sold must be classed as zero emission. If manufacturers fail to hit their quotas, they could face fines of up to £15,000 per car.
A number of carmakers are already struggling to meet their targets, although there are flexible mechanisms built into the rules which should allow them to avoid fines for the moment.
But the quota is due to rise to 28% next year, and to 33% in 2026 – being ramped up each year after that to hit 80% by 2030.
Manufacturers insist this is happening too fast. Although sales of new EVs are rising – with one in five cars sold in October being battery powered, they say this is misleading.
They claim demand for electric cars simply isn’t high enough yet, forcing them to offer unsustainable discounts in an effort to meet their targets.
Some are calling for the government to water down the quotas, in order to give them more time.
Others say it needs to offer greater taxpayer-funded incentives for electric cars, and to do more to reassure car buyers that enough charging infrastructure will be built.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20626dy9d6o
All three of the problems identified – EVs, energy prices and competition from China – can be directly laid at successive governments’ doors.
As was obvious from the beginning, there never was enough demand for EVs for the mandated targets to be achieved. Manufacturers have been forced into offering unaffordable discounts for EVs, and are now cutting back on ICE cars, so as to artificially increase the ratio of EVs. Even then, some will still not meet ZEV targets, and carrying the deficit forward is a mug’s game.
And it was equally obvious that banning the sale of petrol/diesel cars would open the door to cheap Chinese EVs. All we were doing was throwing away the technological advantages that UK and European manufacturers had built up over the years.
Energy prices, of course, speak for themselves.
Unless the EV madness is abandoned and electricity prices reduced to competitive levels, both the UK and European car industries will be much smaller in ten years time.
So, another 800 green jobs created. And another 800 skilled people on Universal Credit
Some may remember the bad old days of rusting vehicles. Usually remedied by a bit of plate and welding. The manufacturers got over that problem in the end. After all, it was about improving the product as people demanded.
Nobody – aside from our feudal lords and ladies – has ever demanded EVs replace anything and why would they? Not even a command economy approach will work. They have sung the praises of EVs for several years and although corporations and companies were a pushover, they haven’t got anywhere with private individuals at all.
“”‘I bought a £70k electric car that’s now useless and unfixable’
Early adopters of Fisker EVs face an ongoing nightmare as company declares bankruptcy””
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/electric-car-owners-left-useless-unfixable-vehicles/
And now the problems will only get worse as EVs begin to be taxed along with ice cars.
‘Luxury car’ tax grab to hit 70% of EVs, fuelling calls for exemption
New Labour Government urged by UK motor industry to address concerns of potential EV purchasers and boost uptake of electric vehicles among private buyers by easing tax burden
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/luxury-car-tax-grab-2025
There is no way EVs can work for the many as traditional Ford cars could – and they know it. The idea is to make it as unaffordable for as many as possible.
The manufacturers will have to radically downsize their operations.
“Some may remember the bad old days of rusting vehicles. Usually remedied by a bit of plate and welding. The manufacturers got over that problem in the end. After all, it was about improving the product as people demanded.”
In the northern sections of America, with long winters, and a lot of salt on the roads- cars used to rust out within 7-8 years- until Japanese cars arrived which were much better built. If it wasn’t for the Japanese cars, I doubt the American car companies would ever have improved their products regardless of what the customers wanted. Oligopolies don’t feel much competitive pressure.
Well, Joseph, the European and British makers had real problems with their cars, so much so that garages used to advertise their welding capabilities. When the MOT came in it was a major feature of keeping a car on the road and that had to change.
That didn’t happen. Automobiles don’t arrive, they are built and sold under market competition.
The first three imported cars I had – a 70s Honda and Toyota, and a early 80’s Mazda, rusted out before my 60’s Ford and Chevy did. A 70’s Fiat I had lasted longer than all of them, despite the model being recalled for rust issues.
“Japanese” cars, built or assembled in the U.S., improved in metallurgy and surface treatments at the same time as “American” cars. They did so out of competition and development of cheaper technology.
Anyone who’s owned or driven an old Mercedes or Audi, in the U.S. Northern tier or in Europe has experienced something similar. And Japanese models in Japan, exposed to urea ice treatments or ocean salt spray, don’t fare much better.
None of that is pertinent to EVs, where the market is just about as far as it can be driven by tax payer funded incentives. In Europe, Ford’s EV technology is in part developed by VW, where the Mach E is sold as the Capri, and competes against similar sized gasoline and hybrid powered vehicles from those parents and with other companies. It can’t compete on cost, lifespan, or availability.
That didn’t happen. Automobiles don’t arrive, they are built and sold under market competition.
The first three imported cars I had – a 70s Honda and Toyota, and a early 80s Mazda, rusted out before my 60s Ford and Chevy did. A 74 Fiat I had lasted longer than all of them, despite the model being recalled in the late 1980s for rust issues.
“Japanese” cars, built or assembled in the U.S., improved in metallurgy and surface treatments at the same time as “American” cars. They did so out of competition and development of cheaper technology.
Anyone who’s owned or driven an old Mercedes or Audi, in the U.S. Northern tier or in Europe has experienced something similar. And Japanese models in Japan, exposed to urea ice treatments or ocean salt spray, don’t fare much better.
None of that is pertinent to EVs, where the market is just about as far as it can be driven by tax payer funded incentives. In Europe, Ford’s EV technology is in part developed by VW, where the Mach E is sold as the Capri, and competes against similar sized gasoline and hybrid powered vehicles from those parents and with other companies. It can’t compete on cost, lifespan, or availability. When the subsidies go away, so will they all, except for a few very wealthy people who won’t depend on their EVs for transportation.
Hey Editor. Don’t know how I double -entered this comment. Feel free to delete this one
Yes, the end game of this is the collapse of the auto industry and indeed of car ownership.
And the new Jag ad is another step in this direction …
😉
This self-inflicted damage will affect countries that insist on perpetuation of the green scam, but the rest of the world will just march on.
Have to get rid of cars to accomplish the 15 minute cities.
Just get rid of cars in megacities, not in the countryside.
You don’t need to force that, masses of those living in Inner London simply realise they don’t need a car most of the time, and when they occasionally need one (like for visiting friends over XMas/New Year), they just hire one.
If you’ve ever tried to park in Central London, you’ll realise that using a bus, a tube train, an overground train is far, far more efficient. Even use a taxi during the night.
Train links to all London’s airports are now good enough that you can get to at least four of them from Central London in an hour or less. The new Elizabeth line has transformed access to Heathrow, there is a Stansted Express from Liverpool Street station, a Gatwick Express from Victoria, you can get to Luton from St Pancras. Bus links exist also.
That isn’t ideological, it’s simply practical daily life.
Outside huge cities like London, the reality is very different.
“Among the issues they face are high energy costs, weaker than expected demand for electric cars and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.”
How about high wages? Not a problem?
In the automotive industry the OEM’s have very low % of their costs in wages. They out source a lot and so buy in pre assembled seats, dashboard assemblies etc from the 2nd tier suppliers who are beaten up with Chinese labour costs being so much lower that the 2nd tier relocate their factories to Asia. The OEM’s use a lot of automation in big sheds so electricity costs outweigh wages. The pressures they used on 3rd and 2nd tier suppliers which made 1000’s of redundancies in the West are now being used against themselves. As one of those made redundant my sympathy levels are low but they are a strategic asset that cannot be given away to the Chinese.
Economic/natural consequences…painful, but the only way greens will learn.
After ~40 years the greens have learned the square root of diddly squat. They do scripture.
“. . . the square root of diddly squat.”
I’m going to steal that phrase (but I’ll give proper credit). Thanks!
I can’t claim any credit for a euphemism for ‘the least amount‘. The only time I have ever gone viral is with flu.
“The best part of bugger all” is the phrase I like.
Or even ‘naff all‘….
“…Some are calling for the government to water down the quotas, in order to give them more time.
Others say it needs to offer greater taxpayer-funded incentives for electric cars, and to do more to reassure car buyers that enough charging infrastructure will be built…”
How about the government just get the hell out of the car business and let the market sort it out?
I would normally be in the market for a new truck right now, but since they have added all of the mandatory automation that I do not want, and the fact you can’t get a V8 anymore, I am just going to refurbish my old one.
I’m taking delivery of a Ford Super Duty in 2 weeks. It has 2 V8 gas engine options. I picked the 7.3L “Godzilla” engine. It’s currently on a train from the factory in Kentucky.
Not cheap though … it’s gonna be $80 k after state sales tax and licensing. Ouch…
More notes from the UK inmate run madhouse. Jackson is head of Octopus, an alternative energy electricity supplier.
Mr Jackson said that in the long term the UK’s energy system needed major reforms.
“Today our prices are way too high because, first of all, we’re so dependent on the internationally traded gas price. It’s currently three times higher than it was in 2020.
“But secondly, our electricity market is so inefficient. We’re building wind farms but instead of them bringing down our prices, we’re paying them to switch off when it’s too windy.
“We can’t carry on building all this new infrastructure without changing the market. We’re going to be spending up to £6bn a year paying wind farms to turn off and balancing the system by 2030 if we don’t reform the market. And this is all adding to bills.”
The UK energy strategy is to subsidize the build of wind farms where there is no demand and then pay them not to generate. Meanwhile converting everything in sight to electricity, to ensure that the electricity you are paying them not to generate doesn’t exist to run the EVs and heat pumps you are forcing them to install.
But stop arguing about these details, will you, we are thinking strategically and leading the planet in the fight against climate change!
The UK needs a referendum on whether its voters really want to lead the world…
For at least 50 years now the belief that Britain leads the world has been a total illusion.
We aren’t doing that badly in the deindustrialisation stakes.
Even as losers we will still come around fourth place – behind [possibly] Australia, California and Germany.
I would say that started about the time of Dunkirk.
One of of the undisputed leaders in self-destruction.
Britain leads the world in a few small niches, partly basic discovery-led R+D, partly niche high end engineering/manufacturing like the ‘automotive alley’ where much of the global F1 team operations exist; jet engines and aeroplane wings (Rolls Royce and Airbus); football (although it is all being bought out by the US); some other things.
We simply aren’t good at step-wise innovation, leading to leadership at the mature phases of a particular industry, notably manufacturing.
We will return to a nation of skilled artesans, I suspect.
From the article: “Volkswagen is even contemplating the closure of factories in Germany, a step that would be unprecedented.
“The automotive industry is going through a period of massive disruption at the moment,” explained Ms Brankin.”
Yes, the automobile industry is going through a period of massive disruption specifically because of government mandates that are driving them out of business.
Politicians, and their delusions about CO2, and their efforts to rein in CO2 are what is causing the problems.
And the politicians seem oblivious to what the real problem is.
This is what these fool politicians have brought Germany to.
If your aim was to destroy Germany, you would do just what German politicians are doing now.
I’ve watched a couple of interviews of ‘experts’ explaining why VW is in such dire straits – the argued that it was because VW didn’t go hard enough down the EV route.
Sigh.
I would have thought it was because they stopped making vehicles that people want to buy.
Germany can thank the USA for their deindustrialisation – it’s called Nordstream II destruction. Germany should sue the US for trillions due to that action and call for the USA to be thrown off the continent of Europe in perpetuity.
It might teach Americans how to behave.
By the way, Jackson also had a helpful suggestion for anyone who gets cold in the UK this winter:
Mr Jackson said using electric blankets rather than central heating or gas and electric fires could save households £300 a year.
“If people are worried about their heating, they can stay warm and healthier much more cheaply by snuggling up in electric blankets for a while,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Mr Jackson said Octopus had already sent out 65,000 free electric blankets to its customers. “They’re not tokenism. It saves 300 quid a year on your gas bill during the crisis and keeps you warm.”
Your house will be cold, you will wrap yourselves in duvets and electric blankets. Until the power cuts, of course, which may sort of inhibit the electric blankets from warming you quite so much. And you will like it, because we are leading the world in fighting climate change.
“electric blankets” and items like them were predicated on houses with no central heating… If your house is warm you don’t need one.
I think they have a use if you sleep with someone of the opposite sex. Men seem to want bedrooms to be quite a bit cooler.
But aren’t these remarks by Jackson absolutely scandalous? They are really at the ‘let them eat cake’ level. Here the country is, subsidizing wind and solar to the tine of £400+ per household per year, converting everyone to electricity, making electricity prices the highest in the world, and all someone profiting handsomely from this madness can find to say to those in fuel poverty is, wrap yourselves in an electric blanket.
Which you will run on our overpriced greenwashed electricity!
“Let them eat cake” is exactly what he is saying.
Notice he doesn’t take any personal blame for the situation.
Dangerous cluelessness. Stupid UK politicians are causing citizens great harm over a delusional belief that CO2 must be reduced.
What’s really needed is a reduction in stupid/delusional/clueless politicians.
Helly Hansen makes a line of work clothing that allows you to turn off your household heat altogether and you don’t need electricity for your blankets either.
The heating fuel savings and reduction in CO2 footprint of your household is very beneficial in preventing CC.
You should get equipped now and avoid the expensive intermediate steps that are being taken by governments to reduce your fuel consumption.
I always thought Tesla should sell optional heated/cooled garments
Ah, a new source of fires to add to the list (topped by Lithium batteries).
Too many ways to damage those if not cared for properly and damaged, can start fires.
The cabal have deliberately destroyed the car industry to get us off the roads for net zero insanity.
15 minute cities
related: Swedish battery maker Northvolt files for bankruptcy https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/22/northvolt-files-for-bankruptcy-in-setback-to-europes-ev-ambitions.html
Unfortunately, this is not the end of it.
“On Thursday, the company sought bankruptcy protection in the U.S. to allow it to restructure its debt, scale back its business and secure a sustainable foundation for its continued operation.”
So, they want is to write off debt and suck more subsidies.
“Northvolt said Thursday that the reorganization of the company would help it access approximately $245 million in new financing, totaling around $145 million in cash and $100 million debtor-in-possession financing — a type of loan that is provided to companies in financial distress.”
Well building a battery gigafactory near the Arctic Circle in remote Northern Sweden miles away from any potential markets does seem to be a poor decision!
Battery manufacturer Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy.
Bosch is laying off jobs, most in Germany.
5 more years of Ursula and it’s all gone.
Fining manufacturers for not selling enough vehicles that people don’t want to buy.
Makes perfect sense.
Not.
Seem the old adage of “what’s good for GM is good for the country” might not have been that far off the mark.
You don’t need to know any more than this.
“Among the issues they face are high energy costs, weaker than expected demand for electric cars and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.”
All of it directly as a result of piss poor government. Take away crappy government and the majority of our problems simply disappear.
If the product was overpriced from the outset and still stayed that way even with incentives, these factors provided immediate disincentives for consumers. Then when lower reliability levels than ICEs were revealed, plus a shortage of recharging infrastructure, inconsistent cruising ranges, a suspicion that fires were more likely, low resale values, high repair costs, etc. came to the forefront, it’s no wonder consumers have been backing off. In addition, they’ll continue to be wary of EVs unless the above shortcomings can be rectified sooner than later.
Its a shame that the once mighty Great Britain, a global empire that brought prosperity and Western civilization to the world, in less than a century is now a doomed, God forsaken S***hole island.
Destroyed by Delusions about CO2.