Ford is cutting 1,400 non-factory jobs in North America and Asia

Ford Motor Co. is cutting 1,400 jobs in North America and the Asia Pacific region this year in an effort to boost profit. The company will offer voluntary early retirement and separation packages to about 10% of its non-factory workers in departments such as sales, marketing and human resources. It expects the actions to be complete by the end of September. Ford believes that it will meet its targets by voluntary means and doesn't expect involuntary layoffs, spokesman Mike Moran said Wednesday. "We remain focused on the three strategic priorities that will create value and drive profitable growth, which include fortifying the profit pillars in our core business, transforming traditionally underperforming areas of our core business and investing aggressively, but prudently, in emerging opportunities," Ford said in an email sent to employees early Wednesday. "Reducing costs and becoming as lean and efficient as possible also remain part of that work."