City Officials Criticize Ford’s Decision-Making Amid Crisis at Cologne Plant
Cologne’s Mayor, Henriette Reker, has leveled severe criticism at American automaker Ford in the context of the crisis at the Cologne plant. Reker told the Focus news magazine, “Decisions were made in the US that now need to be washed away in Cologne. In Detroit, the opportunities of electric mobility were not recognized in a timely manner and the possibility of further development at the Cologne site was not seen.” The market opportunities in Germany, she added, were not adequately assessed. “It’s very bitter.”
Ford is the largest private employer in Cologne, with thousands of jobs at stake at the plant. In early June, more than 10,000 of the 11,500 employees went on strike, the first official strike in the history of the Cologne Ford plants. Ford’s European business has been reporting losses for some time and the company’s decision to discontinue the production of the Ford Fiesta, a long-time bestseller in Cologne, in 2023 was a significant blow. Although Ford now produces two electric vehicles in Cologne, sales have fallen far short of expectations, with investments of around two billion euros in the electric vehicle production not yet yielding the expected returns.
According to Reker, the city of Cologne is in close contact with Ford’s management and works council and is willing to do everything possible to mitigate the crisis. “We are in close exchange with management and the works council” she said. “The council has agreed to fill open positions at the city with Ford employees, if it makes sense and the qualifications are a match.