Weak Demand: Ford Introduces Short-Time Work at the Electric Plant in Cologne

The automaker Ford is introducing short-time work in Cologne due to weak demand for electric cars. "The significantly lower than expected demand for electric vehicles, especially in Germany, requires a temporary adjustment of production volumes at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center," a Ford spokeswoman said. The company will apply for short-time work with the Federal Employment Agency because of the rapidly deteriorating market conditions for electric vehicles. This was previously reported by the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" (Wednesday) in advance. According to the automaker, short-time work has been applied for a total of three weeks.

In the Cologne plant, the electric models Explorer and Capri are rolling off the assembly line. "We are producing more than we can sell," the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" quotes from an internal letter. Like the entire automotive industry, Ford is struggling with weak sales in Germany and Europe. Consumer reluctance towards electric cars and the end of subsidies in Germany are causing problems for automakers.