By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian unit of Ford Motor Company said on Tuesday it was initiating a voluntary layoff program for its plant in Camaçari, in the northeast state of Bahia, with the goal of reducing the workforce it said was in excess to current needs. The company did not say how many people will be laid off.
Ford previously said the plant was operating with about 700 excess workers. The plant employs 7,400 people in Camaçari, where it produces the compact Ka and the mid-sized EcoSport SUV.
The U.S. automaker said two months ago it would close its oldest plant in Brazil, located in São Bernardo do Campo, which could take away 2,700 jobs as part of a restructuring meant to end losses around the world.
Referring to the Bahia plant, Ford said the goal is to align the plant’s workforce with current market demand.
Ford sold 24,000 Ka vehicles in Brazil in the first quarter – about the same amount as in the previous year – and 7,600 EcoSports – slightly above the 7,000 reported in the first quarter of 2018.
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