BERLIN, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Germany will defend its

status as a location for big industry, Chancellor Olaf Scholz

said on Tuesday, after attending a works council meeting at

Ford's production site in Cologne, where the U.S. carmaker

plans to cut jobs.

"Germany is an industrial centre and will remain so," Scholz

said.

The chancellor, who is fighting for a second term in snap

elections in February, also called for Europe-wide sales

incentives to spur the roll-out of electric-powered cars.