Ford to curb German production; lay off 204

FRANKFURT: Ford Motor Company's German unit said on Tuesday it would curb production and lay off 204 part-time workers at its Saarlouis plant in western Germany in light of the current financial turmoil.

About 6,500 people work at the Saarlouis plant, where Ford produces the Focus, C-Max and Cougar models, Ford spokesman Bernd Meyer said. He declined to say by how many cars overall production will be cut.

The company's Cologne plant in the northwest of the country will continue production without changes, the company said.

Ford's statement follows similar announcements of production cuts by Opel GmbH and Daimler AG earlier on Tuesday.