Ford to extend Genk production stops by average one day a month
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Ford will lay off workers at its Genk, Belgium, plant for an average of one day extra per month this year to cope with the car industry's anticipated lower sales in Europe, a spokesman said.
Five of the planned days of stopped production will be brought forward to start on Feb. 20, coinciding with school holidays in Belgium, spokesman Adrian Schmitz said by e-mail.
The factory is already operating a four-day week production schedule, he added.
The Genk assembly plant produces the Galaxy, Mondeo and S-Max models and employs 5,545 workers.
Hard times in Europe
On Friday, Ford announced a fourth quarter pretax operating loss of $190 million for its European operations, widening from a loss of $51 million the year before.
European sales dropped 6,000 units in the same period from 391,000 in 2010, as consumer confidence in the region continued to be subdued by ongoing problems in the eurozone.
Sources: Bloomberg; Automotive News Europe
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