Among the issues they face are high energy costs, weaker than expected demand for electric cars and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.
They claim demand for electric cars simply isn’t high enough yet, forcing them to offer unsustainable discounts in an effort to meet their targets.
Under the so-called Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which came into force this year, at least 22% of cars sold must be classed as zero emission.
Others say it needs to offer greater taxpayer-funded incentives for electric cars, and to do more to reassure car buyers that enough charging infrastructure will be built.
“Making this announcement isn’t something that anybody wants to do, and I appreciate it will have a very significant impact on our employees,” said Lisa Brankin, managing director of Ford of Britain and Ireland.
The company said it had to act because of difficult trading conditions, including intense competition and weak demand for electric vehicles.
The carmaker is attempting to move away from its past as a mass-manufacturer of cheap "runabouts", and position itself as more upmarket brand, focused on electric cars.
Meanwhile in Britain, the government is coming under intense pressure from the car industry over rules designed to force them to build more electric vehicles.
“We’ve got unprecedented competition, regulation and lots of economic headwinds” Those pressures are hitting Ford at a difficult time.
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