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Employee Separation Actions and Exit and Disposal Activities (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]  
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] EMPLOYEE SEPARATION ACTIONS AND EXIT AND DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES
We generally record costs associated with voluntary separations at the time of employee acceptance. We record costs associated with involuntary separation programs when management has approved the plan for separation, the affected employees are identified, and it is unlikely that actions required to complete the separation plan will change significantly. Costs associated with benefits that are contingent on the employee continuing to provide service are accrued over the required service period.

Company Excluding Ford Credit

Employee separation actions and exit and disposal activities include employee separation costs, facility and other asset-related charges (e.g., impairment, accelerated depreciation), dealer and supplier payments, other statutory and contractual obligations, and other expenses, which are recorded in Cost of sales and Selling, administrative, and other expenses. Below are actions that have been initiated:

•Brazil. Exited manufacturing operations in 2021 resulting in the closure of facilities in Camaçari, Taubaté, and Troller. Sales of the Taubaté and Camaçari plants were completed in 2023
•India. Ceased vehicle manufacturing in Sanand in the fourth quarter of 2021 and ceased manufacturing in Chennai in the third quarter of 2022. A sale of the Sanand vehicle assembly and powertrain plants was completed in the first quarter of 2023 (see Note 15)
•Spain. Ceased production of the Mondeo at the Valencia plant in the first quarter of 2022
•China. Ceased development of certain product programs
•Germany. Production of the Focus will cease at our Saarlouis Body and Assembly Plant in 2025. Our plan is to repurpose the facility into a technology center, retaining 1,000 positions.

In addition, we are continuing to reduce our global workforce and take other restructuring actions, including voluntary separation packages offered to our hourly workforce in the first quarter of 2024 as agreed to in our collective bargaining agreements in North America, and the separation of salaried workers, primarily in Europe, as announced in the first quarter of 2023.

The following table summarizes the activities for the periods ended March 31, which are recorded in Other liabilities and deferred revenue (in millions):
First Quarter
20232024
Beginning balance$588 $1,086 
Changes in accruals (a)629 594 
Payments(83)(188)
Foreign currency translation and other(8)(26)
Ending balance$1,126 $1,466 
__________
(a)Excludes pension costs of $4 million and $14 million in the first quarter of 2023 and 2024, respectively.

We recorded $48 million in the first quarter of 2023 for accelerated depreciation and other non-cash items.

We recorded costs of $681 million and $608 million in the first quarter of 2023 and 2024, respectively, related to the actions above. We estimate that we will incur about $1 billion in total charges in 2024 related to such actions, primarily attributable to employee separations and supplier settlements; some charges are related to plans that are subject to negotiations with a works council, union, or other social partner. In addition, we continue to review our global businesses and may take additional restructuring actions where a path to sustained profitability is not feasible when considering the capital allocation required for those businesses.