Ford has announced it will cut 800 jobs in the UK over the next three years. The move is part of a major restructuring programme, which will see 4,000 posts closed across Europe as a whole. The company said it had to act because of difficult trading conditions, including intense competition and weak demand for electric vehicles.

Carmakers have insisted that electric vehicles (EVs) are less prone to fires than petrol ones in an attempt to tackle “myths” about the vehicles that experts fear are harming sales.

Ford Motor Co. says it will reduce its workforce by 4,000 in Europe and the U.K. by the end of 2027, citing headwinds from the economy and pressure from increased competition and weaker-than-expected