• Automakers are racing to adjust to a rapidly shifting EV market.
• Restructuring efforts have included massive job cuts in some cases.
• General Motors, Porsche, Aston Martin, and others have announced plans to lay off workers.

A protracted transition to electric vehicles is taking its toll on global car companies, many of which still have yet to profit from battery-powered vehicles.

Demand for EVs, particularly in the critical US market, slowed considerably in 2024 as green car shoppers get more frugal and practical. This presents a problem for car companies that need mass adoption to deliver profits for these expensive vehicles.

Automotive executives have been scrambling to adjust to this new EV market, pulling back on some EV production and speeding up the development of more popular hybrid cars. As 2025 begins with economic tensions and even more sales results, automakers are eyeing drastic cost-cutting operations

Major car companies like Detroit's GM, Ford, and Stellantis have begun slashing jobs as they cut costs and reshape their business models for this next stage of the EV transition.

Here are all car companies with job cuts planned or already underway in 2024 and 2025:

General Motors lays off about 2,000 employees

Detroit car giant General Motors laid off about 2,000 workers in two rounds of layoffs in August and November. GM cited cost cutting and changing market conditions in both instances.

The majority of the 1,000 jobs cut in November were white-collar, but the United Auto Workers union reported that about 50 of its members were also affected. According to reports, most affected workers were stationed at GM's global technical center in suburban Detroit, where most design and engineering work occurs.

Prior to the November job cuts, GM also trimmed another 1,000 salaried positions in software and services, according to reports.

GM aims to trim $2 billion in costs as it adjusts its EV strategy and manages slowing sales in the US and China.

Ford to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe amid EV slowdown

Ford said in November that it plans to slash 4,000 positions from its European workforce by the end of 2027. Ford said the Germany and UK divisions are likely to be the hardest hit, as these regions suffer "significant losses."

In addition to these job cuts, Ford also announced curtailed production at a factory in Cologne in the first quarter of 2025.

The cuts to Ford's European business come as companies in the region grapple with intense competition from Chinese EV maker BYD.

In the US, Ford also recently announced an extended pause in F-150 Lightning production, which will affect the roughly 730 hourly workers at that Metro Detroit plant until 2025.

Volkswagen plans historic job cuts in Germany

German automotive giant Volkswagen announced big restructuring actions in October, which could include closing factories and cutting tens of thousands of jobs.

The planned cuts, which still face the scrutiny of German unions, were announced after VW issued its second profit warning in three months. Volkswagen faces similar issues to its rivals, with slowing EV sales in China and stiffer competition from BYD in Europe.

VW's planned restructuring would include closing three German factories for the first time in the company's history, as well as cutting salaries by 10% and freezing wages for two years.

Jeep-maker Stellantis slashes jobs amid tough year

Stellantis, the company that owns brands like Chrysler and Jeep, has had a particularly tough year.

As it struggles with oversupply, it has initiated plans to cut nearly 4,000 factory jobs in the US. Meanwhile, the company laid off 400 white-collar workers in the spring and has offered broad buyouts to salaried workers.

The factory cuts have become a lightning rod for the UAW, accusing Stellantis of violating its contract by removing product commitments from an Illinois factory that built the discontinued Jeep Cherokee.

The UAW has threatened to strike over the alleged violation. Stellantis maintains that its actions fall within its contractual right to change plans based on market conditions. The car company has filed a lawsuit against the UAW in reaction to strike authorization votes.

Tesla reduces global workforce by more than 10%

In an April memo obtained by Business Insider, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told his employees that the company would eliminate "more than 10%" of its staff.

The cuts came after Tesla reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year. After initially weathering a slowdown in EV demand, Tesla is finally feeling the pinch of a more competitive EV market in the US.

Nissan plans to cut 9,000 jobs

Japanese car company Nissan announced in November that it would cut 9,000 jobs and reduce manufacturing output amid poor performance in the critical Chinese and US car markets.

The move came as Nissan reduced its operating profit forecast for the year by 70%.

Aston Martin to cut 170 jobs

The luxury British automaker said in February that it would cut about 5% of its workforce or roughly 170 jobs. The move will save about £25 million ($32.26 million), Aston Martin said.

Porsche will cut 3,900 jobs

Porsche said on March 12 that it plans to cut 3,900 jobs in the coming years.

About 2,000 of the reductions will come with the expiration of fixed-term contractor positions, the German automaker said Wednesday. The company will make the other 1,900 reductions by 2029 through natural attrition and limiting hiring, it said.

Porsche said it also plans to discuss more potential changes with labor leaders in the second half of the year. "This will also make Porsche even more efficient in the medium and long term," the company said.

Which twenty-six Reds will we see?

A good bit has changed about the nature of the Cincinnati Reds roster mix since last we gave our best guess at who might be included on it come Opening Day.

Spencer Steer’s shoulder maintained its issues, and he received a cortisone shot back on March 1st. Andrew Abbott, though, has seen his shoulder progress well enough that he threw a pair of IP in a AAA game just yesterday. Rhett Lowder is still behind schedule, unfortunately, but at least it looks like he’s moving forward and not backwards. Speaking of ‘back,’ Tyler Stephenson headed for an MRI after lingering back pain.

Rule 5 draftee Cooper Bowman was sent back to the Oaksacvegas Athletics, while former top prospect Noelvi Marte was officially sent down to AAA.

That’s a lot to process, as are the risks of losing players in camp as non-roster invitees if they aren’t selected to start the season. Same goes for players with no options remaining, as they very well could be scooped up on waivers if not placed on the roster from day one.

With Opening Day now less that two weeks away (!!), here’s our latest, greatest estimate of which Reds will make up the Opening Day roster.

Catcher

I’ve got Tyler Stephenson (1) still on here alongside Jose Trevino (2), as all initial reports on Ty Steve’s back are that his issue is minor. It may mean we see more of Jose in the lineup early on, so far there’s nothing to suggest these aren’t the two backstops they’ll carry from day one.

Infielders (5)

Elly De La Cruz (3) and Matt McLain (4) are the cornerstones of this team, and they’ll form the middle infield. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (5) and Jeimer Candelario (6) seem to be locks in the corner rotation, while Santiago Espinal (7) has solidified his spot as the do-it-all infielder in reserve.

Gavin Lux

Gavin Lux (8)! He’ll see time at 3B, 2B, LF, and even at DH when the time is right. Since I’ve got Spencer Steer beginning the year on the IL, Lux’s versatility will help offset that usually created by having Steer on the roster for the time being.

Outfielders (5)

TJ Friedl (9) is back and healthy and poised to be the everyday CF and leadoff man all 4-WAR style once again. He’ll be flanked by Jake Fraley (10) and Austin Hays (11) most days, with Stuart Fairchild (12) a RHH option on days when Terry Francona wants to stack those up against southpaws. That brings us to Blake Dunn (13), whose RHH ability wins out in this mix over Will Benson since Lux, a LHH, is filling the ‘move anywhere when it’s time to switch’ role previously occupied by Steer, a RHH. In other words, I think Francona will choose to have one more righty bat around than another lefty.

Starting Rotation

Hunter Greene (14) will start on Opening Day, as well he should. He’ll be flanked in some order by each of Nick Martinez (15), Brady Singer (16), and Nick Lodolo (17) for sure at this point. Since the season is long as all heck, I just don’t think the Reds will rush back Andrew Abbott at anything less than ‘full stretched out,’ so I expect him to begin on the IL and miss a turn or two through the rotation - if anything, that may make him even more valuable down the stretch in August/September. I think the Reds carry Carson Spiers (18) as something of ‘starter on an expected bullpen day’ for the time being.

Bullpen

I don’t believe Graham Ashcraft (19) starts the year in the minors - rather, I think he’s carried as the piggyback guy for Spiers’ turn through the rotation with the expecation that he can fill-in for multiple IP when needed in a role akin to how Martinez began last year. Brent Suter (20), Sam Moll (21), and Taylor Rogers (22) form the LHP corps in the ‘pen, while Alexis Díaz (23) will resume his role as the closer. RHP options Emilio Pagán (24) and Scott Barlow (25) have guaranteed money on their deals, so they’ll be down there until they prove ten times they shouldn’t be, leaving one final spot that I’m expected to be filled by Tony Santillan (26) - he pitched well enough last year to deserve it and he’s out of options, so that’s a no-brainer.

Notes

Steer and Abbott are the two notable omissions here. Despite how dismal the Reds have begun seasons in recent memory (and how much that has folded any and all optimism entering those years immediately), I just think they’ll play it safe with them (and Lowder). Abbott getting ~27-28 starts is still very much viable, as is Steer surpassing 550 PA.

Ian Gibaut being back in camp is cool, and he’s fanned 8 against a lone walk in 7.0 IP so far this spring. He’s not on the roster, however, as a NRI on a minor league deal, so I don’t expect him to beat out the rest of the options above. That said, I do think he’s showing enough right now to firmly be in the mix as the first bullpen arm promoted when the inevitable dings happen to the rostered names ahead of him.

Chase Petty has looked really, really solid so far in camp, and at this rate he’ll make his debut (and more) as a Red at some point this year...just not on Opening Day or in the first few turns of the rotation, assuming all goes well elsewhere.