DETROIT - Amid struggling hybrid and electric vehicle sales, Ford Motor Co. is laying off 700 workers at its Michigan Assembly Plant, according to the Detroit News, reported MLive.
The cuts include 673 hourly and 27 salaried employees, beginning June 22. Some of the hourly workers will be redeployed amid summer vacations, and some salaried employees will be transferred to other facilities, according to the News.
"While today's announcement of a shift reduction at our Michigan Assembly Plant is unfortunate, it is not completely unexpected," UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles said in an emailed statement. "We are reminded from time to time that our industry is cyclical and volatile to market conditions."
Automakers have struggled to sell plug-in electric vehicles in the U.S. as of late. Lower fuel prices and heightened interest in light trucks - both SUVs and pickups alike - have played a role.
Ford makes its Focus sedan, ST and electric models and its C-Max hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.
Earlier this month, General Motors announced it would be cutting the prices of its Chevrolet Spark EV and Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid electric cars.
