Ford Australia slashes workforce by 400 roles

Ford Australia has made 400 staff redundant as part of the global company’s job-cutting onslaught.

The layoffs across the ditch are mostly in the carmaker’s vehicle development and design departments based in Melbourne and at Ford’s test facility near Geelong.

Approximately 320 of the roles are salaried, 45 of them are hourly, while the remaining are employed in a different way, reports Ford Authority.

In total, the redundancies make up more than 20 per cent of Ford’s Australian workforce which have been attributed to internal cost cuts.

“We have begun consultation with our employees and unions on our intention to offer a separation program for approximately 400 of our 1800 employees in Australia,” Ford Australia told CarExpert.

“The majority of these will be in product development and design, with a small number in other functions. The changes are part of Ford’s global drive to improve efficiency and transform its operations to meet future needs.” 

Ford Australia previously let go a number of staff in April this year and August last year, following the end of the Ranger and Everest’s development prior to launch.

Job cuts also took place in North America and India in 2022, involving around 3500 roles. The same can be said for Europe with 4000 employees being let go from the carmaker’s local arm.