An estimated 20,000 people took to the streets of the Belgian city of Genk, to protest against the closure of the local Ford car plant.
The shutdown, planned for 2014, would result in 4,500 direct job losses and 5,000 more in the local supply chain.
The 50-year-old factory makes the Mondeo and Galaxy models. Ford says slumping European sales have forced it to restructure.
