FORD’S Basildon base is likely to be unaffected in the short term as the firm announced a major shake-up of its European operation.

The motor giant signalled “significant” cuts among its 50,000-strong European workforce under plans to make it more competitive and make its business more sustainable.

Ford started consultations with unions, with details of job cuts not expected until later in the year, although staff based at Warley, near Brentwood, will move to the Dunton base.

It is expected to lead to thousands of job losses across Europe, but cuts to its UK factories are not thought to be imminent.

Steven Armstrong, Ford’s European group vice president, said the company was taking “decisive action” to transform its European business.

He said: “We will invest in the vehicles, services, segments and markets that best support a long-term sustainably profitable business, creating value for all our stakeholders and delivering emotive vehicles to our customers.”

New all-electric vehicles will be offered for all Ford models, while there will be a more “targeted” line-up of models in the future.

Mr Armstrong said Ford was making “tough” decisions by undertaking a “complete review” of its European operations.

He said the announcement was not directly linked to Brexit, but he added the motor giant will have to undertake a further review if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in March.

Mr Armstrong declined to say how many jobs will be cut, but he said the impact will be “significant”.

The UK’s biggest union Unite said it was working closely with Ford to protect jobs in the UK and look after the interests of employees.

The union also said it expected the impact of cuts on jobs in the UK to be limited.

Unite national officer Des Quinn said: “Unite is positively engaging with Ford over its plans as we seek to safeguard jobs and look after the interests of all the company’s employees in the UK.

“We expect the immediate impact on Ford’s UK operations to be limited.”