Ford Motor(US:F) Xi Niu Cai Jing·2025-09-28 09:47Group 1 - Ford Motor Company will lay off 1,000 employees at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, due to weak demand in the European electric vehicle market [2] - The Cologne plant was a key facility for Ford's electrification strategy in Europe, having received a $2 billion investment for upgrades two years ago, aimed at achieving a target of 35% electric vehicle registration by 2025 [4] - The actual forecast for electric vehicle registration in Europe by the end of 2025 is only 20%, significantly lower than the previous estimate, highlighting overcapacity issues as sales of two electric models fell short of expectations [4] Group 2 - The layoffs are part of Ford's broader cost-cutting plan in Europe, which includes a total of 4,000 job cuts by the end of 2027, primarily affecting factories in Germany and the UK [5] - If all layoffs are implemented, the workforce at the Cologne plant will be reduced by over 60% compared to five years ago [5] - In contrast, the Chinese automotive industry is expanding in the new energy sector, with production and sales growth exceeding 12.5% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2025, and BYD achieving a 23% increase in sales during the same period [5]