Ford closes the Genk plant while the new generation of Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxyare to be launched in 2013.A success could have boosted the site activity.

Even if new capacities have been set up in Romania (however lower than in Belgium), the choice of closing Belgian and British plants lets to think that Ford is not confident in a recovery of the European market. As its competitor GM, Ford gives the feeling to have a plan to ebb from a declining European market and turn towards more profitable regions like North America, Brazil, Russia, India and China.

With its restructuring process and its product plan, Ford targets a return to profits in Europeas soon as in 2015. The group unveiled a long term operational margin objective of 6 to 8% for Europe in 2015.