Ford Profit Squeezed by Excess Plant Capacity in Europe: Cars

Ford Motor Co., with overseas losses reducing total profit, is under pressure to close at least one factory in Europe, where it may have more excess capacity than General Motors Co.

While layoffs and plant closings are difficult in Europe, GM and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced plans to do just that in the past six weeks, which could ease the way for Ford. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker’s assembly plants in Southampton, England, and Genk, Belgium, may be vulnerable.