FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Ford Motor Company Inc. said Monday that it would curb engine production at a German plant for five weeks and put 820 employees there on part-time schedules because of slow demand in the U.S.
The measures at the Cologne plant are to take effect Nov. 3 and involve production of 4-liter V6 engines for export to the U.S., said Bernd Meier, a Ford spokesman.
The Cologne plant employs a total of 17,300 people, but the company said production there of the Fiesta and Fusion models would not be affected.
In 2007, the plant built more than 264,000 V6 engines for export to the U.S. for the Ford Explorer, Ranger and Mustang. The engine is also delivered to Land Rover for some of its models.
Earlier this month, Ford said it would curb production and lay off 204 part-time workers at its Saarlouis plant in western Germany, where it produces the Focus, C-Max and Cougar.
Several other European auto companies recently have announced production cutbacks.
Earlier this month BMW AG, Daimler AG, General Motors Corp. subsidiary Adam Opel AG all said they were cutting production in Germany, and GM said its other subsidiaries in Europe were also affected.
Italy's Fiat and Renault of France also said they would slow production.
Ford shares fell 2 cents to $2.41 in midday trading.
