'What are we going to do': French car parts workers on strike demand an EU future for their trade

Dozens of funeral crosses line the road leading to the factory owned by car parts giant Valeo in northwestern France.

Each one bears the names of the nearly 300 employees at risk of losing their jobs in the coming weeks.

Since Monday night, the workers at this plant in Suze-sur-Sarthe — in a region where the automotive industry is vital for the local economy — are on strike. 

The site mainly produces battery cooling systems for electric vehicles for car giant Stellantis, who own Opel, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën, and other brands.

Two other factories across France are also on the brink of shutting down, potentially impacting 1,000 workers.

The impending announcement is a constant source of stress and anxiety for the employees.

"We've seen many people crying, some even breaking down," said Odile Nasarre, a materials engineer and labour union representative.

"We've also had some who decided to leave because they didn't want to see the outcome. There are a dozen couples here. It's going to impact many families,” she told Euronews.

The employees decided to pin paper crosses on the gates of the factory.

Didier, an engineer in research and development, shows us his cross where he scribbled the years 1991-2025 — symbolising the 34 years he has worked at Valeo.

"It all ends on a bit of a sour note," he explained, pointing to the sad face he drew next to the dates.

At 57 years old, he doesn't believe retraining is in the books for him if the factory shuts down.

"The average age at the plant is 53 years. With the various unemployment and pension reforms, people find themselves in a situation where they have to work an additional seven to eight years before they can retire," said Franck Goulette, a central union representative at Valeo.

"Many are asking themselves: “What am I going to do? The unemployment benefits won't last until I can retire." This is a major concern for employees," he told Euronews.

In 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron signed a highly unpopular pension reform, which raised the state pension age from 62 to 64.

Falling car sales, companies like Valeo searching for cheaper labour abroad, and the EU Commission’s goal to switch to all-electric vehicles by 2035 are causing a crisis within the car industry in France and across the EU.

Since 2012, 70,000 jobs have been lost in the automotive industry in France.

The boss of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, said last week that he is not ruling out factory closures in the coming months, citing fierce competition from Chinese rivals as one of the main concerns.

In Germany, Europe's leading carmaker Volkswagen is considering shutting down one of its production sites — a first in nearly 90 years.

The European Commission is considering imposing hefty tariffs on cheap Chinese EVs.

Many workers at the Valeo plant wonder whether the car industry even has a future in Europe.

"In 2000, there were 2,000 of us here. Today, we are less than 300. Will there be many of us still working in the auto industry in the future? That's the big question," signed Odile Nasarre.

Euronews reached out to Valeo but the company refused to answer any questions. 

The fate of the three factories should be decided by mid-December.