Ford has denied plans it is going to end production of the Mondeo. Demand for the Mid-size car market is shrinking industry wide due to changing consumer preferences. People are now buying SUV’s and this change in buying habits will result in the ending of slow-selling models. Reports indicate that Ford is planning to end the production of the Mondeo and other models.

Such a move is said to part of a global initiative. Ford has to introduce a range of new models to appeal to consumer tastes. If the Mondeo and other derivative models do not then Ford will act swiftly. Cost-cutting can also be defined as job losses. And Europe is said to be in Ford’s firing line, some 24,000 European jobs are said to be at risk. Ford is said to be targeting engine production plants in Dagenham and Bridgend in addition to a transmission plant n Halewood. Ford employes around 13,000 workers in the UK. To quell speculation regarding the Mondeo the ‘Blue Oval’ said that planned interior and exterior upgrades will be introduced later this year as scheduled. The Mondeo is assembled at Ford’s production plant in Valencia, Spain. Ford is also targeting the ending of the Galaxy and S-Max minivans, both also manufactured in Spain. Cost cutting in order to meet changing market conditions is common business practice in any competitive industry. Ford is acknowledging that they have to implement major design and engineering updates to their current European lineup in order to stay competitive. A trade dispute initiated by the Trump administration may well be one of the reasons behind Ford’s announcement. Nevertheless, it is the workers who will face the brunt of these cost-cutting measures. This is how capitalism works. It is both brutal and kind in equal measure.