Exterior of Ford's Irvine Design Studio, soon to be closed.
Ford Motor Co. has announced the closure of its Irvine Design Studio, resulting in the layoff of 263 employees. The shutdown, effective November 30, offers continued employment options in Long Beach and Dearborn. This decision is part of Ford’s restructuring strategy in response to industry trends, centralizing design and engineering roles to enhance competitiveness. Employees express concern over job losses and relocation challenges, while Ford commits to assisting displaced workers during the transition, marking significant changes in its West Coast operations.
Irvine, California – Ford Motor Co. has announced the closure of its Design Studio located at 3 Glen Bell Way, resulting in significant job losses for its employees. The shutdown, disclosed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter dated June 30, will lead to the layoffs of 263 employees, with a scheduled closure date of November 30.
As Ford consolidates its operations, employees working at the Irvine Design Studio will be offered continued employment at Ford facilities in Long Beach, California, or in Dearborn, Michigan. Those who choose to remain in Southern California must report to one of two Long Beach locations within the month. A total of five employees who declined to relocate to Dearborn will face termination on August 31.
The WARN letter highlighted that among the affected individuals, 92 employees hold positions as hardware development engineers. This move marks an important restructuring step for Ford as it aligns its workforce with current business needs, particularly in the context of evolving automotive industry trends.
This announcement marks yet another difficult chapter in Ford’s West Coast operations. The company last experienced a downsizing in the area in 2009, signaling ongoing challenges within this segment of its business. The building at 3 Glen Bell Way is accounted for lease and spans approximately 87,639 square feet, which includes 30,000 square feet of office space and 20,000 square feet designated as showroom space. Avison Young is currently marketing the commercial property for lease.
The decision to shutter the Irvine Design Studio reflects broader trends in the automotive sector, where many companies are reviewing their operational footprints in response to technological advancements and market dynamics. Design and engineering roles are increasingly being centralized in locations where Ford seeks to expand its research and development capabilities to maintain competitiveness.
Employees at the Design Studio have expressed concern over the changes, as the shift represents not only a significant loss of local jobs but also personal challenges related to relocation. Ford has emphasized its commitment to assist displaced employees during this transitional phase by providing job offers in other locations, albeit with some employees opting against the move.
As automotive companies adjust to the fast-paced transformations triggered by electric vehicle development and other innovations, this closure further demonstrates the ongoing adjustments that major manufacturers are making to balance profitability with workforce commitments.
Going forward, attention will be on how Ford manages this transition for its remaining workforce and whether the moves made in Irvine will lead to greater efficiencies in its operations overall.
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