Production of the 2013 Ford Mondeo has moved to Spain.
Production of the 2013 Ford Mondeo has moved to Spain.
Plant closure, joint projects on the list as US makers act to cut losses.
Ford is to close a Belgian assembly plant and General Motors is planning a product-sharing plan with a French rival as the Detroit automakers battle mounting losses in Europe.
Ford said it plans to end production at its car factory in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014 and moveproduction of cars such as the Mondeo to Valencia in Spain.
GM said it would co-develop four vehicle projects before 2017 as part of its money-saving alliance with France's PSA/Peugeot-Citroen.
The moves come as each automaker prepares to issue third-quarter earnings reports next week. These are expected to show the mounting toll of Europe's struggles amid North American recoveries, according to industry website, Automotive News.
Ford has forecast that its Europe losses will top US$1 billion (NZ$1.2b) this year, as the region braces for its biggest annual drop in car sales in 19 years. GM has lost nearly US$17 billion in the region since 1999.
Under the Belgian plan, production of the next-generation Mondeo mid-sized car and S-Max and Galaxy minivans would move from Genk to Ford's factory in Valencia.
"The proposed restructuring of our European manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our plan to strengthen Ford's business in Europe and to return to profitable growth," said Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell.
Ford's sales in the European Union have fallen 12.6 per cent in the first nine months in a total market down 7.6 per cent, says industry association ACEA.
