Ford, the US carmaker, announced on Tuesday it will cut another 1,000 jobs at its Cologne, Germany plant as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe continues to decline.
Starting next January, the plant's operations will be reduced from two shifts to one, affecting the workforce.
This is the first layoff in vehicle production since the plant was converted into Ford's first EV production center in Europe, after a $2 billion investment two years ago.
The announcement also follows Ford's previous plan to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe by 2027, including about 2,900 in Germany in administration and development.
The plan also triggered the first strike in May, before management and the works council reached an agreement in July offering a compensation package.
Works council spokesman David Luedtke described the latest move as "another major blow to the Cologne plant".
He also warned that the decision added to workers' concerns about the long-term future of the plant.
If both rounds of layoffs are implemented, the workforce in Cologne - which is also the company's European headquarters - is expected to shrink to around 7,600 people, down from 12,000 last year and 20,000 five years ago.
