Electrolux Group announced it will close its Santiago, Chile manufacturing facility by end of April 2026, eliminating approximately 400 jobs. The decision followed a review of the factory's cost competitiveness. The company will take a restructuring charge of approximately SEK 0.5 billion (SEK 0.2 billion cash-related), reported as a non-recurring item in Q1 2026. Products previously made at the Santiago plant will be sourced from other Electrolux factories and external partners.
Electrolux is one of the world's largest appliance makers, with 52,000 employees globally. This closure is part of a broader pattern in manufacturing where companies are consolidating production away from markets where labor and logistics costs no longer make sense. The move mirrors what Whirlpool did earlier in 2026 when it cut 341 workers in Iowa while expanding in Mexico. For the 400 workers in Santiago, the factory closure is total: no partial reductions, no phased wind-down. The entire operation shuts by end of April.