US automaker Ford announced on Tuesday it would cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, mainly in Britain and Germany, as competition intensifies in the electric car sector.

The company said 2,300 administrative and product development jobs will be cut in Germany, 1,300 in Britain and 200 elsewhere in Europe over the next three years.

“These are tough decisions that just aren’t made,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford of Europe. “We know this uncertainty is taking its toll on our team and I can assure you that we will be giving it our full support in the coming months.”

The company explained that the decision is aimed at reviving its business in Europe and competing profitably with a new line of passenger cars, noting that it is “responding to rapidly changing market conditions”.

Last year, the American company announced thousands of job cuts in the United States and India. Last year, Ford reported a $2 billion loss.

Like its rivals, Ford has invested heavily in electric vehicles, releasing zero-emissions versions of its best-selling vehicles like the F-Series pickup truck.

Ford said its plan to introduce a range of electric cars in Europe by 2035 “has not changed”. The European Union has agreed to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 as part of the bloc’s efforts to build a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.