Valeo negotiates the dismissal of more than 1,000 workers at eight plants in France

The announcement, publicized by the unions, which would have been informed of this adjustment plan, is framed within a restructuring of the French firm at European level in its energy division, which brings together activities linked to the electric car.

Likewise, factories in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic could also be affected by layoffs; In this case, it is speculated that they could be up to 188 positions of work adhered to the cutback plan that will affect, in any case, mainly France.

In the last few hours, the unions have reported a total of 1,059 forced departures and 174 voluntary departures in France, that is, 6.4% of the total workforce of 14,000 employees that Valeo has in the country. In addition, another 74 vacancies that were open until now will not be filled.

At the moment, a timetable for undertaking this adjustment has not been detailed, although the company advances that it will offer the laid-off workers relocation to other production centers.

Specifically, Valeo has confirmed the closure of the research and development center in La Verrière (Yvelines), where the 365 employees affected by these adjustments will be offered a position with identical content, but with a new contract, at the Cergy headquarters. and Creteil.

The Sarthe factory, specialized in temperature management systems for thermal and electric motors, will also be the subject of closing with workers who may be “reclassified” in Sablé, about 30 kilometers away. The reason given for its closure is the loss of European automobile production due to the arrival of Chinese competition.

The Saint-Quentin-Fallavier factory (Isère), the third threatened site, has finally maintained activity in the hybridization systems, which has made it possible to retain 85% of the operator positions.

At the same time, the Sainte-Florine factory, in Auvergne, will lose 80 workers and Reims will lose 97 positions of work, that of Limoges 72, while the Amiens factory, specialized in clutches, will cut its workforce by 89 people. In Laval, 15 departures are planned.

Job cuts will focus on management positions although they will not affect positions related to production, as confirmed by the company.

Crisis in other European suppliers

A week ago, the German company Bosch announced the dismissal of 5,500 workers in the group’s mobility division, as lweak demand for electric vehicles and the arrival of Chinese competition accentuates the crisis in the automobile sector in Europe.

It is estimated that by the end of 2027, the majority of all planned positions, around 3,500, half of them in Germany, in the software units for autonomous driving will be eliminated.

In addition, the group’s management business will also be greatly affected at the national level in Germany. At the Schwäbisch Gmünd factory, 1,300 jobs will be cut between 2027 and 2032, these are, one in three jobs of the plant.

Additionally, Bosch also announced the dismissal of 750 employees at the Hildesheim plant, where components for electromobility are manufactured. 600 of them are expected to be eliminated by the end of 2026.