In the end it happened faster than expected. After 55 years, the last car rolled off the Ford assembly line in Saarlouis this Friday (November 14). “We just finished the program early,” the head of Ford’s works council in Saarlouis, Markus Thal, told the German Press Agency.
On the final day, about 100 Focus cars were scheduled for final assembly. “And someday the last car will be on wheels,” Thal said. The end of vehicle production had a profound emotional impact on employees in Saarlouis. In recent days, several employees have shed tears.
The last car to come off the assembly line will later be presented to the city of Saarlouis, Thal said. “This is for the museum in Saarlouis.” Most recently, November 21 is planned as the last day of vehicle production.
More than 15 million vehicles were produced
According to Thal, 2,700 people were recently employed at the Saarlouis factory. Work will then continue at the 1,000-employee plant: They will make components and parts for Ford in Europe.
Since the US automaker began production in Saarlouis in January 1970, more than 15.6 million vehicles have been built at the plant, a Ford spokesman announced in Cologne. The most successful models to roll off the assembly line in Saarlouis were the Ford Escort and Ford Focus. The decision was taken three years ago
Ford management decided in June 2022 to end production of the Focus model in Saarland and give preference to a plant in Valencia, Spain, for the construction of the electric car platform. The decision was a hard blow for the 4,600 employees at the time.
A social collective labor agreement has been in effect for employees at Ford factories since February 2024, which, among other things, provides for the continued employment of 1,000 employees until the end of 2032. In addition, high severance pay and bonuses, the creation of transfer companies and a qualification program have been agreed upon.
