Ligier, the license-free car manufacturer, will eliminate almost all jobs at the Montaigu site in Vendée

The manufacturer wants to transfer vehicle production to Allier.

Ligier, manufacturer of cars without a license, will eliminate almost all jobs at its Montaigu site, in Vendée, to transfer vehicle production to Allier, “ici Loire Océan” learned from management on Thursday January 9 and a union, confirming information from West France.

According to the CFDT, joined by “ici Loire Océan”, of the 141 people on permanent contracts, 126 will lose their jobs by the end of the year. “Fifteen people must keep their jobs”deplores the union. Gilles Chaillou, Ligier union delegate in Montaigu, expresses “anger” employees. “It’s not a light-hearted choice”for his part, manages the group.

It is the existing competition in the market for license-free cars that pushed Ligier to repatriate a large part of the activities present in Vendée to its historic site in Abrets, in Allier. The production of license-free cars, electric scooters, cargo bikes and small trucks will reach Allier between June and the end of 2025, according to the CFDT.

The union representative recognizes that with two sites, “there were too many overheads compared to falling volumes, profitability problems”. Gilles Chaillou adds that the employees are “completely demotivated”especially since January 6, partial unemployment has been implemented in Montaigu.