Source: Gasgoo Author: Ramy
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The government of the German state of Saarland is continuing talks to find a new investor for Ford’s plant in Saarlouis, according to Automotive News Europe.
Citing a report by the German news agency dpa, Automotive News Europe said Saarland Governor Anke Rehlinger revealed that the Saarland government is currently in talks with an investor from the automotive industry about the future of the plant.Rehlinger said, “I still believe that we will find a solution that allows the plant to retain as many jobs as possible.”Rehlinger added that even if an investor in the automotive industry cannot be found, there are other options for the plant.
Rehlinger said the German government recently cut subsidies for the purchase of electric cars, but that won’t affect a future investor’s decision to produce electric cars at the plant. “I am confident that such a decision will not end up jeopardising a major investment.”
Image source: Ford
The Saarlouis plant has mainly assembled Ford Focus compact cars. Previously, Ford said it would stop producing cars at its Saarlouis plant in 2025 and would only sell pure electric vehicles in the European market in the future. However, Ford chose to produce the next generation of pure electric vehicles based on the new electric vehicle platform at the Valencia plant in Spain instead of the Saarlouis plant.
In June last year, media reported that Ford would reach an agreement to sell the Saarlouis plant. Among the three main bidders were BYD and several smaller Chinese car companies. But in October last year, Ford said that “after a detailed feasibility study and intensive negotiations,” the investors decided not to continue negotiations to take over the plant.
