The North American arm of Continental -- a German supplier that makes engine components, safety systems, tires and electronics -- is based in Auburn Hills.
The job cuts at Continental will range from 700 to 1,000 positions in North America, said Samir Salman, CEO of Continental's North American operations in an interview today.
The cuts will include attrition and layoffs across the supplier's North American operations, which employ about 16,000 people.
The cuts are part of a plan to bring together Continental AG and Siemens VDO, a merger that closed in 2007, and also to respond to production cuts, Salman said.
Many suppliers are cutting their workforces and taking unusual steps to slash costs. Visteon, for example, has shifted to a four-day work week, and is, in turn, cutting the pay for more than 2,000 salaried workers in Michigan.
Continental also is considering adjustments to the number of hours its salaried employees work, Salman said.
In other Continental news, the supplier had planned to sell its fuel supply business, but said Tuesday that it is keeping that business, in part because the union representing those workers has agreed to hold concessionary discussions and because the credit crunch has made it tough to find a buyer, Salman said.
Continental also has applied for funding from the $25 billion that U.S. Department of Energy is doling out to accelerate fuel-efficient technology.
Contact Jewel Gopwani at 313-223-4550 or jgopwani@freepress.com.
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