Parts suppliers such as Schaeffler play a crucial role in the automotive industry, providing components ranging from braking systems to in-car electronics. (EPA Images pic)FRANKFURT: German auto parts supplier Schaeffler said Tuesday that it planned to cut almost 3,500 jobs and close five sites in Europe as the crisis gripping the region's car industry deepens.

Like other German carmakers and suppliers, the group has struggled with competition for its key products, which include ball bearings and electric vehicle parts, especially from Chinese manufacturers.

Three-fourths of the 3,460 job cuts and four of the five site closures will be in Germany, the company said in a statement, pointing to "above-average" costs for workers in Europe's top economy.