Ford is soon a thing of the past. At least on the outskirts of the German city of Saarlouis. After 57 years, a car factory is closing and will now be used for something completely different.
Ford's car factory on the outskirts of the German city of Saarlouis is closing after 57 years. The factory, which has produced iconic models such as the Escort, Capri, Fiesta and Focus for decades, will no longer manufacture cars.
After failing to find a buyer from the automotive industry, it has now been determined what the factory will be used for when the last Ford leaves the assembly line.
Despite its long history and skilled employees, the factory in Saarlouis has not been able to continue production.
Ford tried to attract investors as recently as last year, but without success. The last model produced here is the Ford Focus, which will roll off the assembly line for the last time in November. The factory, which produces around 600 cars a day, will thus be completely closed.
The closure in Saarlouis is part of Ford's strategy to restructure production. Previously, the company stopped production of classic models such as the Fiesta and Mondeo in Europe.
The brand has instead focused on electric cars, SUVs and larger pickup models at home in the U.S. This restructuring also results in reductions at other European factories in countries such as Spain, the UK and Germany.
Since the factory in Germany was inaugurated by Henry Ford II in 1968, it has played a central role in the production of several of Ford's best-selling models.
From the early years with the Ford Escort to later including the Capri, Fiesta and Focus, the factory has been an important part of the automotive industry. However, the new electric Ford Capri is being built in a different factory in Cologne. But there are problems here too. Read more about it here.
A new era begins when the pharmaceutical company Vetter takes over the factory premises. Vetter, which employs approximately 6,300 people and has an annual turnover of 7 billion Danish kroner, plans to create up to 2,000 new jobs in Saarlouis.
This allows many of the former employees to find new jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. But there is not enough work for all the soon-to-be former Ford employees.
– We hope to offer new career opportunities for many people in an industry with future-proof jobs, says Udo J according to Automobilwoche .
Despite these prospects, the closure is a serious blow to the region. Saarland, where Saarlouis is located, is home to around 44,000 people who depend on the automotive industry. Around 4,000 employees from the Ford factory will now have to find new jobs, creating great uncertainty for many families in the area.
